Published on March 27 | Last updated on June 25
SOUTH JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — A former Washington Township teacher accused of sexually assaulting a middle school student is now facing additional charges.
On April 2, the Gloucester County judge denied the request to release 36-year-old Ashley Fisler and ordered her to be held for trial.
The Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office said Fisler had multiple sexual encounters with a student in 2021 and 2022, while she was a teacher at Orchard Valley Middle School in Sewell.
That student, now an adult, told investigators in January that the encounters took place inside her car and in the classroom. Investigators said there were 7,500 pages of texts between Fisler and the victim, often explicit, and officials said these messages corroborate the victim’s claims and prove a pattern of grooming and manipulation. In one of the exchanges, the victim allegedly told Fisler she robbed him of his innocence.
Fisler was charged with sexual assault of a minor, endangering the welfare of a child, and official misconduct.
On June 24, the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office announced additional charges: first-degree manufacturing of child sexual abuse material, an offense that comes with a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, as well as second-degree pattern of misconduct.
Fisler is no longer employed as a teacher in Washington Township or anywhere else.
In all, she was indicted on 12 counts. She is being held for trial and faces decades in prison if convicted.
