32-Year-Old Union Beach Man Indicted On 30 Counts Of Child Endangerment & Sex Crimes Against Student Athletes

Wednesday, August 14, 2024, 6:30 A.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

FREEHOLD, NJ.- On Tuesday, August 13, 2024, a Grand Jury sitting in Monmouth County, New Jersey, returned an indictment against a 32-year-old Union Beach, New Jersey man, and former youth soccer coach on additional and upgraded charges on multiple counts of sex crimes against student-athletes he was coaching.

     According to Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago, Ryan Gunsauls, 32, of Union Beach, has been charged in the indictment with four counts of first-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child by Manufacturing Child Sexual Abuse Material; four counts of second-degree Attempted Child Endangerment by Manufacture of Child Sexual Abuse Material; eight counts of second-degree Child Endangerment by Sexual Conduct; nine counts of third-degree Distributing Obscene Materials to a Minor; two counts of fourth-degree Child Endangerment by Criminal Sexual Contact.

     Gunsauls was also charged in the indictment with one count of second-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child for Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material; one count of third-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child by Sexual Conduct; and one count of third-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child by Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material.

     The indictment is the result of an investigation that began earlier this year when a juvenile boy came forward and disclosed to authorities that Gunsauls had been soliciting and distributing sexually explicit materials with him via a social media application.

     As the joint investigation continued, Detectives of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Bureau and the Union Beach Police Department were able to identify an additional eight juvenile victims, who were between the ages of 11 and 17. Following interviews with the victims, Gunsauls was taken into custody in May without incident and charged.

     Following being processed on the charges, Gunsauls was remanded to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, where he has remained since his May arrest.

     If convicted on all of the charges, and due to the number of victims, Gunsauls will face the potential of spending decades in New Jersey State Prison.

“The rules of the court require 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.”