A college dean in Ocean County, recently promoted, was arrested on Friday after allegedly paying a teenage boy for sex. This occurred after he was led to the boy’s home in Pleasantville, New Jersey.
James Hadley, 65, arrived at the scene with a bottle of lubricant and $200, attempting to enter the residence when authorities intervened, as detailed in an affidavit. The interactions between Hadley and the 13-year-old reportedly included at least two previous meetings where the dean paid the boy the same amount for sex, based on encrypted exchanges between them.
The boy’s mother discovered explicit messages and photos on his phone, leading her to report the situation to the police on Thursday.
Shortly after, detectives began communicating with Hadley under the pretense of being the victim, ultimately arranging for his arrest at the Pleasantville home just a day later. Allegedly, he sent messages expressing eagerness to meet up and discussed sexual topics, acknowledging his awareness of New Jersey’s age of consent being 16.
Hadley is noted as an active volunteer, participating in several local youth organizations. Directors from the Barnegat Basketball Club confirmed his involvement, which spanned decades, and he was dismissed shortly after his arrest.
He previously served on the Barnegat Little League board until 2022, and had a brief tenure with Big Brothers Big Sisters in 2019, as reported.
Most recently, Hadley held the position of dean for Ocean County College’s College of Business and Social Sciences, as per his LinkedIn profile. He is also listed as an adjunct professor in Kean University’s School of Accounting and Finance, although that information has since been removed from the site.
Hadley faces charges including enticing a minor, sexual assault, and criminal sexual conduct, among others. Following his arrest, he was denied release and is set to appear in court again on April 24.
