Story by Ethan
On August 13th, 2024, the arrest of Darrell R. Moody, 51, was announced by Acting Mercer County Prosecutor Theresa L. Hilton and Trenton Police Director Steve Wilson. Darrell R. Moody was charged with one count of first-degree Aggravated Sexual Assault, one count of second-degree Sexual Assault, two counts of third-degree Aggravated Criminal Sexual Contact, two counts of fourth-degree Criminal Sexual Contact, and two counts of second-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
According to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, the victim contacted Trenton Police to report previous incidents of sexual assault against them, spanning back to when they were a student at a middle school. Trenton Police started a joint-investigation with the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit. Detectives discovered that the victim met Darrell R. Moody when he was teaching fifth-grade at Parker Elementary School. Allegedly Darrell R. Moody sexually assaulted the victim, over a time period spanning from the beginning of middle school for the victim, and continuing into their high school years. During this time period, Darrell R. Moody was also the basketball coach at Joyce Kilmer Middle School.
The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office stated that the charges against Darrell R. Moody are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
