June 20, 2024
JACKSON, NJ (OCEAN)–Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on June 20, 2024, Andrew Fantasia, 27, of Beachwood, was indicted by a Grand Jury sitting in Ocean County on the charges of Possession of Child Pornography, two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, two counts of Criminal Sexual Contact, and Official Misconduct, in connection with a series of incidents that occurred between February 2023 and June 2023, in Jackson Township.
An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and Jackson Township Police Department determined that between February 2023 and June 2023, Fantasia – while employed in his official capacity as a teacher at Carl W. Goetz Middle School and club advisor at Jackson Memorial High School – had inappropriate sexual contact with a student on high school property. The investigation further revealed that Fantasia requested nude photos from the victim.
On October 25, 2023, Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victim’s Unit, Jackson Township Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, executed a court-authorized search warrant at Fantasia’s residence; as a result, Detectives seized multiple electronic devices in Fantasia’s possession. Fantasia was charged with Aggravated Sexual Contact, Endangering the Welfare of a Child, and Official Misconduct. He was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Ocean County Jail.
A full forensic analysis of Fantasia’s electronic devices conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit revealed nude images of the victim on Fantasia’s cellular phone. On November 1, 2023, Fantasia was served with the additional charges of Possession of Child Pornography, as well as a second count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, by way of warrant at the Ocean County Jail. Fantasia has since been released from the Ocean County Jail as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Assistant Prosecutor Victoria Veni who presented the case to the Grand Jury on behalf of the State, and commends 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 above are merely accusations and the press and public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
R.P.C. 3.6(b)(6).
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