SALEM -- A former school teacher will be headed to state prison after admitting to sexually assaulting a young girl who was a family friend, authorities said.

Rick Gazzola has admitted to sexually assaulting a young girl, authorities say. (Salem County Correctional Facility)

Rick Gazzola, of Lower Alloways Creek Township, faces eight years in state prison under the plea deal reached last week, according to Salem County Prosecutor John T. Lenahan.

Gazzola, 45, pleaded guilty to a second-degree charge of aggravated sexual assault.

The victim was a family friend. Family members of the girl were in Superior Court Thursday when Gazzola made his plea.

Gazzola was arrested on Oct. 5 at his home on Buttonwood Avenue in the Hancocks Bridge section of the township.

Lower Alloways Creek Township's Public Safety Director David Sowers, at the time of Gazzola's arrest, said the assault took place at Gazzola's home on June 24.

After the assault, the victim's parents "began to notice some alarming irregularities" with their daughter and prompted them to take her to a physician," Sowers said at the time. During the doctor's visit, it was revealed that the little girl had apparently been sexually assaulted.

The parents alerted Lower Alloways Creek police and an investigation was initiated in cooperation with the Salem County Prosecutor's Office, authorities said, and Gazzola was arrested.

The girl was 3 at the time of the attack.

At the time of his arrest, Gazzola was employed as a Social Studies teacher at the Salem Middle School. He was removed by district officials after they learned of the arrest.

As part of the plea deal, Gazzola's New Jersey teaching license will be permanently revoked, according to Lenahan.

At the time of his arrest, Gazzola was also charged with endangering the welfare of a child. He had been jailed on $100,000 bail, but was released on Oct. 26 after posting bond.

He will be required to serve 85 percent of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole.

Gazzola's sentencing is scheduled for June 2 in Superior Court in Salem.

Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow South Jersey Times on Twitter @TheSJTimes. Find NJ.com on Facebook.