Former MKA Teacher, Coach Strikes Plea Deal in Child Sex Abuse

The owner of Parsippany's now-closed Ablaze Baseball, and former teacher and coach at Montclair Kimberley Academy pled guilty to having a sexual affair with a 14-year-old girl, officials said this week.

Robert J. Gervasi Jr., 48, of Bloomfield and a former Union County teacher, entered his plea Tuesday before a Superior Court judge in Elizabeth. He pled guilty to one count of second degree sexual assault and two counts of second degree endangering the welfare of a minor.  

Union County Assistant Prosecutor David Hummel said his recommendation is seven years in a prison followed by Parole Supervision for life and and will be barred from public employment under Megans Law. 

Judge John Triarsi is scheduled to hand down the sentence March 22.

Gervasi was arrested in Union Township in August 2012 while attempting to meet with a 14-year-old girl, Romankow said. He is reported to have started a sexual relationship with her earlier that summer.

Gervasi was at MKA between 1997 and June 2002. During that time, he taught middle school mathematics and was the school's head varsity softball coach. He left upon his own choosing.

MKA Headmaster Thomas Nammack said he had no comment regarding Gervasi. 

Initially he was charged with two counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, two counts of second-degree sexual assault, one count of second-degree luring, one count of second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor, one count of third-degree aggravated criminal sexual contact and one count of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact.

Authorities said the relationship took place in parks in Union Township, at Gervasi's baseball academy in Parsippany and at a condominium in Hoboken.

[Wednesday, Feb. 13: This article was updated to indicate Gervasi had previously taught and coached at Montclair Kimberley Academy.]