Ex-Gymnastics Coach In Shrewsbury Charged In Sex Assault Of 3 Teens

FREEHOLD, NJ — A former youth gymnastics coach who worked for 30 years in several Monmouth County gyms has been arrested, charged with committing sexual offenses against three of the teen athletes he coached, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago said.

Sasha C. Raught, 55, of Manchester Township is charged with first-degree aggravated sexual assault and three counts of second-degree sexual assault, the prosecutor's office said Monday.

An investigation by members of the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office Special Victims Bureau revealed that Raught entered into sexual relationships with three of his former athletes when they were each teenagers.

The first two alleged instances took place when he was employed at Shrewsbury Gymnastics during the early to mid-1990s. The third instance took place in 2008, while he was employed at Jonas Gymnastics Academy in Marlboro.

Raught was arrested at his home without incident late last month by members of the Prosecutor’s Office and the Manchester and Shrewsbury Police Departments.

He has been in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold, pending a detention hearing scheduled to take place on Wednesday, June 7, in Monmouth County Superior Court.

The state has filed a motion to keep Raught detained as the criminal case against him proceeds.

Anyone with information about Raught’s activities is urged to contact prosecutor's office Detective Joseph Pahopin at 800-533-7443.

This case has been assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Keri-Leigh Schaefer. Convictions on first-degree criminal charges can be punishable by terms of up to 20 years in state prison.