Youth soccer coach charged with crimes against children
Youth soccer coach charged with crimes against children
A Union Beach man racks up over twenty charges for crimes against youth
FREEHOLD – A youth soccer coach has been charged with distributing sexually explicit images to and engaging in sexually explicit conversations with eight of the student-athletes under his supervision, two of whom he also touched inappropriately, Deputy First Assistant Prosecutor Christopher J. Decker announced Tuesday.
Ryan Gunsauls, 32, of Union Beach is charged with eight counts of second-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child, eight counts of third-degree Distributing Obscene Materials to a Minor, two counts of second-degree Attempted Endangering, two counts of fourth-degree Criminal Sexual Contact, and single counts of second-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child via Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM) and third-degree Possession of CSAM.
An investigation involving members of the MCPO Special Victims Bureau and the Union Beach Police Department began last week, when a juvenile disclosed that Gunsauls had been soliciting and distributing sexually explicit materials with him via a social media app. As the investigation continued, the additional victims, ranging in age from 11 to 17, were identified and contacted for interviews.
Gunsauls was arrested without incident in Hazlet on Friday, May 11 and transported to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution (MCCI) pending a detention hearing tentatively scheduled for Monday, May 20 in Monmouth County Superior Court.
Mayor Charles Cocuzza issued the following statement on Facebook:
Residents Of Union Beach
Today, the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office released a statement regarding the arrest and on-going investigation of a Union Beach Soccer Association Coach.
I am aware that the Union Beach Soccer Association was in the process of setting up a meeting for tonight at Borough Hall with their coaches and parents.
After having discussions with the Union Beach Police Department and members of the Governing Body, I have informed the Union Beach Soccer Association Officials that tonight's meeting cannot take place and is being canceled.
As all of you are aware, this is an active and on-going criminal investigation that spans several Municipalities and being conducted by several law enforcement agencies both on the local and county level.
The information that was made public by the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office is all the information anyone has at this time. While many questions remain, unfortunately the answers to those questions can only be answered upon the conclusion of the collective investigations.
The coach in question has been arrested and charged and further charges may or may not result from the collective investigations.
If you are contacted by the Union Beach Police Department or Monmouth County Prosecutors Office you are encouraged to cooperate.
If you believe you have information helpful to authorities or have a child that is a victim please reach out to Detective Joe Mason at the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office at 1-800-533-7443
Sincerely,
Charles W Cocuzza, Mayor
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Keri-Leigh Schaefer of the MCPO Special Victims Bureau.
Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.
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