NJ Basketball coach charged with sexually molesting teen

MIDDLESEX COUNTY -- Christopher Tarver, a suspended Dunellen recreation director and ex-Middlesex County College basketball coach was arrested today on charges that he improperly touched a male teenager who was part of his traveling Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball team.

Tarver, 43, was also charged with giving the teen alcohol and marijuana in exchange for nude text photos of the boy on various occasions between July 2005 and 2008.

In all, Tarver faces one third degree account of aggravated criminal sexual contact and three, second degree counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

The investigation began when the victim, who is now an adult, contacted authorities. The two investigators on the case: Karleen Duca and Frank DiNinno confirmed that the victim was a member of the traveling basketball team, Monmouth Power Sports Club, where Tarver has been the coach and executive director since 1995.

This isn't the first time Tarver has faced allegations of child sex abuse. In April, 2014 he was arrested for sexually assaulting another teenager who was a member of his traveling basketball team, multiple times between 2010 and 2012 in Edison and Dunellen.

He faces three charges in that case: a fourth degree count of criminal sexual contact, a second degree count of endangering the welfare of a child and a second degree count of sexual assault. Initially he posted bail and was released but was returned today to the Middlesex County Adult Corrections Center with bail set at $75,000 on the new charges.

Tarver has worked extensively with youth sports groups. He has been suspended as recreation director of Dunellen, a post he'd held since 2004.

He'd also worked as recreation director in North Plainfield from February 2008 to February 2013. Tarver was employed as a basketball coach at Middlesex County College from October 21, 2006 to March 5, 2014 and became head basketball coach at the college on June 24, 2010.

Anyone with information any information related to this case is asked to contact Investigator Duca at (732)745-4452 or Investigator DiNinno at (732)745-4194.