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Andrew Fantasia, 27, of Beachwood, originally was charged on Wednesday, Oct. 25 with aggravated criminal sexual contact, child endangerment and official misconduct, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Jackson Township Police Chief Matthew Kunz.
On Wednesday, Nov. 1, Fantasia was additionally charged with possession of child pornography and an additional count of child endangerment, Billhimer said.
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, Billhimer said.
An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and Jackson Township Police Department determined that between February and June of this year, 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, Billhimer said.
The investigation further revealed that Fantasia requested nude photos from the victim, he said. Fantasia was taken into custody and transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he is presently lodged pending a detention hearing.
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