Former New Jersey Teacher Indicted on New Charges
A former middle school teacher in New Jersey, Ashley Fissler, has been indicted on new charges related to an alleged sexual relationship with a student, prosecutors announced on Wednesday. The 36-year-old from Washington Township is now facing a total of 12 charges, which include sexual assault of a minor and official misconduct, according to the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office.
The alleged victim, who is now an adult, reported to the police that he had sexual encounters with Fissler while he was a minor. Fissler was a teacher at Orchard Valley Middle School at the time of the incidents. According to prosecutors, these encounters reportedly took place both in her vehicle and in the classroom during 2021.
Investigators claim to have recovered text messages that substantiate the nature of the alleged relationship. Even after the victim transitioned to high school, it is said that Fissler continued sending thousands of sexually explicit messages to him. In one instance, the former student expressed feelings of emotional distress caused by Fissler in a message that was part of a substantial collection of nearly 7,500 pages of texts.
Defense attorney Rocco Ciparrone has maintained that the messages were taken out of context, arguing that prosecutors lack sufficient evidence to support the charges. He emphasized that a selective reading of the messages does not capture the full context.
Initially arrested in March, Fissler faced six counts of first-degree sexual assault, alongside other charges for risking a child’s well-being and misconduct. The recent indictment added further charges, including second-degree official misconduct and first-degree manufacturing of child sexual abuse material.
If convicted, the penalties for these charges could be substantial. First-degree charges could lead to a maximum of 20 years in prison, while second-degree and third-degree charges carry maximum penalties of 10 and 5 years, respectively.
Fissler taught social studies in the Washington Township School District from 2014 until June 2023, but she is currently not employed by the district or any other school district.
