Ryan Gunsalls, 32, a former volunteer firefighter and police dispatcher, is accused of sexting and sexually abusing children, some as young as 11, while he was a youth soccer coach in New Jersey.
Gunthols was first arrested in May after a player accused him of sending her sexually explicit material online and requesting similar material in return, according to the Monmouth County prosecutor’s office.
Eight players have come forward, the oldest is 17 and the youngest is 11. Investigators allege the former coach confessed to sending sexually explicit material through team chats – including photos of his penis – and to picking up two players and taking them to a local stadium where he sexually abused them in his car.
Prosecutors said Gunsall revealed the sexting and molestation took place over a three-year period.
Gunsall faces 30 charges. include:
- four first-degree counts of endangering the welfare of a child by producing child sexual abuse material and four second-degree counts of endangering the welfare of a child by producing child sexual abuse material.
- eight counts of second-degree child endangerment by sexual conduct;
- nine counts of distributing obscene materials to minors;
- two counts of criminal sexual contact;
- one count of second-degree child endangerment by distribution of child sexual abuse material;
- and one count of third-degree endangerment by sexual battery.
- one count of third-degree possession of child sexual abuse material;
Gunsall remained jailed by judge’s order after his initial arrest in May, but after the father of a 12-year-old boy came forward with evidence of sexually explicit conversations between his son and Gunsall on the child’s cellphone, the DA’s Special Victims Unit launched a joint investigation with Union Beach police that uncovered eight more alleged victims.
“Gunthall’s attorney, Michael J. Papa of Hazlet, said Gunthall will plead not guilty at his arraignment.” Asbury Park Press.
