Edison, New Jersey – On Wednesday, August 30, a disconcerting revelation emerged as New Jersey authorities announced the arrest of Julius Coaccioli, a 55-year-old science teacher in Edison, for allegedly possessing illicit online materials involving child pornography. Coaccioli, who taught at Woodrow Wilson Middle School, now faces a third-degree charge in connection with the case.
The investigation remains at its early stages, leaving officials to withhold specific details regarding the circumstances leading to Coaccioli’s arrest. The teacher himself has yet to provide any comments on the allegations.
Julius Coaccioli, known as a science educator at Woodrow Wilson Middle School, was reportedly earning a salary of $106,369 for the 2022-23 academic year.
The arrest followed a cyber tip received by New Jersey authorities indicating Coaccioli’s involvement with illegal material. Subsequently, a search warrant was executed at his residence. Reacting to the situation, Edward Aldarelli, Superintendent of Edison Township Public Schools, promptly released an official statement. He declared that the accused teacher had been placed on administrative leave and prohibited from entering school premises until the legal proceedings reach resolution.
“The safety and security of our students continues to be our top priority,” Aldarelli emphasized.
As of August 31, officials are meticulously investigating the extent of Coaccioli’s activities. While they acknowledged that fewer than 1000 illicit images were found on the teacher’s laptop, they have refrained from disclosing whether any of the crimes are directly linked to students at the school.
Due to the gravity of the allegations, multiple law enforcement agencies are collaborating in the case. The New Jersey State Police, with the assistance of specialists like Detective Ken McGarry from the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit, are spearheading the investigation. Detective Stephanie Redline, an investigator with the Special Victim’s Unit of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, also plays a prominent role in the ongoing inquiry.
Child pornography is a deeply concerning issue in New Jersey, prompting stringent measures. The state enforces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years for individuals convicted of distributing such materials. This stern approach was elucidated by former Governor Chris Christie in 2013, who expressed the necessity of combating these “abhorrent crimes.”
“The safety and well-being of our children should be our utmost priority,” Christie asserted at the time.
The case against Julius Coaccioli remains active, as law enforcement continues its thorough investigation into the allegations.
