JACKSON – A Jackson Township Middle School teacher has been arrested and charged after he allegedly asked one of his students to send inappropriate photos, officials said.
Andrew Fantasia, 27, of Beachwood, was charged with Aggravated Criminal Sexual Contact, Endangering the Welfare of a Child, and Official Misconduct.
Fantasia is a teacher at Carl W. Goetz Middle School and club advisor at Jackson Memorial High School. According to police, he had inappropriate sexual contact with a student on high school property between February 2023 and June 2023.
Authorities later determined that Fantasia had requested nude photos from the victim.
On October 25, police searched Fantasia’s home and seized multiple electronic devices in Fantasia’s possession. Fantasia was taken into custody and transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he is presently lodged pending a detention hearing.
“I would encourage parents to have a conversation with their children in order to determine whether they had Mr. Fantasia as a teacher or advisor,” Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.
If anyone has additional information regarding Fantasia or this investigation, contact Detective Janine Kaiser of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-929-2027, extension 5821, or Detective Joseph Pante of the Jackson Township Police Department at 732-833-3016.
Prosecutor Billhimer and Jackson Township Police Chief Matthew Kunz acknowledge the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, Jackson Township Police Department, Jackson Township Police Department Detective Bureau, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, for their collaborative efforts in connection with this investigation.
The charges referenced are merely accusations and the public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
