LONG BRANCH, NJ – The pandemic within the pandemic has reared its ugly head here at the Jersey Shore. Nationwide, crimes against children are on the rise, and child [censored]ography is spiraling out of control according to federal authorities. Now, a school teacher in Long Branch School District has been arrested and charged for crimes against one of his young students.
Gustavo Barrientos, 53, of Tinton Falls, has been charged with first degree Aggravated Sexual Assault and second-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
“Through the investigation, law enforcement learned that while employed as an elementary school teacher in the Long Branch School District, on multiple occasions, Barrientos would show a 10-year-old female student [censored]ography and sexually assault her,” the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office reports. “The investigation was the product of a joint investigation by members of the Long Branch Police Department and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victim’s Bureau.”
Barrientos, a student advisor was suspended with pay by the district in September of 2018. He taught math and science at the George L. Catrambone School in 2018 and in 2019 was identified as a second grade teacher.
Investigators are seeking additional information about Barrientos’ activities. Anyone with any information please contact Detective Todd Coleman of the Long Branch Police Department at 732-222-1000 or Detective Sergeant Shawn Murphy of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victim’s Bureau at 732-431-7160 ext. 7032.