#Ex-NJ teacher charged with sexually assaulting student

A former New Jersey elementary school teacher has been charged with sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl and repeatedly showing her pornography, prosecutors said.

Gustavo Barrientos, 53, of Tinton Falls, is facing first-degree aggravated sexual assault and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child charges following an investigation into the accusations, Monmouth County prosecutors announced Sunday.

Barrientos allegedly showed the 10-year-old female student porn and sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions while working as an elementary school teacher for Long Branch Public Schools.

It’s unclear where Barrientos, who was arrested Sunday, was working at the time of the alleged assaults, but he was listed as a fourth-grade teacher at George L. Catrambone Elementary School for the 2016-2017 school year, NJ.com reported.

Barrientos was later listed as suspended with pay in September 2018, according to minutes of a school board meeting cited by the outlet.

Prosecutors did not specify when Barrientos’ employment with the district ended.

Messages seeking comment from a spokesperson for Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni and district officials were not immediately returned early Monday.

Barrientos had earned about $66,500 annually, state pension records from late 2019 show. He had been a teacher in New Jersey since 2007, NJ.com reported.

Barrientos was ordered held in custody Thursday pending a detention hearing, prosecutors said. He remained held without bond Monday at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, online records show. It’s unclear if he’s hired an attorney who could speak on his behalf.

If convicted of aggravated sexual assault, he faces life in prison. He could also be sentenced to 10 years if found guilty of endangering the welfare of a child, prosecutors said.

Anyone with additional information about Barrientos is asked to contact Long Branch police at (732) 222-1000 or Monmouth County prosecutors at (732) 431-7160.