Ex-Westfield High School Math Teacher Faces Up To 20 Years In Prison After Guilty Plea In Newark Federal Court
Sunday, February 15, 2026, 8:00 A.M. ET. 3 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
NEWARK, NJ.- A former New Jersey public school teacher admitted in federal court this week that he knowingly possessed child pornography, federal prosecutors announced.
Matthew Ozol, 40, of Jersey City, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Evelyn Padin to one count of possession of child pornography, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey. The plea was entered in Newark federal court.
Ozol is a former math teacher at Westfield High School in Union County. He resigned from his position in June 2022, authorities confirmed.
Evidence And Investigation;
According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant at Ozol’s Jersey City residence in August 2025. During the search, agents seized multiple electronic devices, including a cellular phone, a laptop computer, a USB storage device, and an external hard drive.
A forensic examination of those devices revealed more than 100 digital images and approximately 75 video files depicting the sexual exploitation and abuse of children. Prosecutors stated that many of the files involved the sexual abuse of infants and toddlers, placing the material among the most severe categories prosecuted under federal law.
Court filings further revealed that beginning in 2022, Ozol used encrypted messaging applications to send and receive messages expressing a desire to sexually abuse children. Investigators identified one encrypted chat group in which Ozol participated titled “Baby Rapist.”
Federal authorities stated that the recovered material included images depicting minors under the age of 12 and that Ozol knowingly possessed the files in violation of federal statutes governing child sexual abuse material.
Charges And Potential Penalties;
The charge of possession of child pornography carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Ozol also faces mandatory sex-offender registration and additional supervised release conditions following any term of incarceration.
Following entering his guilty plea, Judge Padin scheduled sentencing for August of 2026.
Federal Prosecution And Acknowledgments;
Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy, with leading the investigation that resulted in the guilty plea.
The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey.
Project Safe Childhood Initiative;
This prosecution was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice. The program is designed to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse by coordinating federal, state, and local law enforcement resources.
Project Safe Childhood focuses on identifying offenders, rescuing victims, and prosecuting crimes involving child sexual abuse material, both online and offline.
Community Impact;
The case has reverberated through the Westfield and Jersey City communities, raising renewed concerns about child safety and online exploitation. Authorities emphasized that investigations of this nature often begin with digital evidence and public reporting, underscoring the importance of vigilance in protecting minors.
Law enforcement officials continue to urge anyone with information related to the exploitation of children to report it immediately to local authorities or federal agencies.
Editor’s Note:
This article was written by Art Fletcher, Executive Editor, and is based exclusively on verified federal court records, charging documents, and official statements released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey. Employment information identifying Matthew Ozol as a former math teacher at Westfield High School was corroborated through official government disclosures and contemporaneous local reporting. All allegations referenced were admitted by the defendant as part of a guilty plea in federal court.
