27-Year-Old Beachwood Man & Former Jackson Township School Teacher Has Been Indicted On Multiple Charges
Sunday, June 23, 2024, 9:00 A.M. ET. By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
JACKSON TOWNSHIP, NJ.- On Thursday, June 20, 2024, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer reported, that a Grand Jury sitting in Ocean County, New Jersey, returned an indictment charging Andrew Fantasia, 27, of Beachwood, New Jersey, on charges of Possession of Child Pornography; two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child; two counts of Criminal Sexual Contact; and one count of Official Misconduct.
The charges in the indictment stem from alleged incidents that occurred between February 2023 and June 2023 in Jackson Township, New Jersey, while Fantasia was employed as a middle school teacher and a club advisor at a high school.
An investigation by Detectives of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and the Jackson Township Police Department uncovered that between the months of February 2023 and June 2023, while employed as a teacher at Carl W. Goetz Middle School and a club advisor at Jackson Township Memorial High School, had inappropriate sexual contact with a student on high school property.
During the investigation, Detectives learned that Fantasia requested that the student send nude photos to him.
As part of the investigation, on October 25, 2023, Detectives and Investigators of multiple Ocean County Law Enforcement agencies executed a court-authorized search warrant on Fantasia’s Beachwood residence. During the search Detectives seized multiple electronic devices. Fantasia was taken into custody and formally charged with Aggravated Sexual Contact; Endangering the Welfare of a Child; and Official Misconduct. Fantasia was processed on the charges and transported to the Ocean County Jail.
Following a complete forensic analysis of Fantasia’s electronic devices that were seized, Detectives discovered nude images of the student on Fantasia’s cell phone. Following the discovery, and eight days later on November 1, 2023, while incarcerated at the Ocean County Jail, Fantasia was additionally charged on a warrant complaint with Possession of Child Pornography; and a second count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
As the case progressed, Fantasia was released on pretrial conditions according to New Jersey Bail Reform requirements.
“The rules of the court requires us to include a statement, that states: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations and the defendant and or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.”
