A former New Jersey middle school teacher, Ashley Fisler, 36, has been indicted on 12 new charges, including manufacturing child sexual abuse material, sexual assault of a minor, and a pattern of official misconduct. Prosecutors allege Fisler, of Washington Township, had an unlawful sexual relationship with a student who was a minor at the time.
The alleged victim, who is now an adult, told investigators that multiple sexual encounters took place in Fisler's vehicle and classroom in 2021 while she taught at Orchard Valley Middle School. Investigators recovered thousands of text messages, some of which prosecutors say were sexually explicit and demonstrated the unlawful nature of the relationship. According to reports, the victim stated in one exchange that the teacher left him mentally broken.
Fisler was initially arrested in March and faced six counts of first-degree sexual assault of a minor, one count of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and one count of second-degree official misconduct. The superseding indictment added charges of second-degree pattern of official misconduct, first-degree manufacturing of child sexual abuse material, third-degree possession of child sexual abuse material, and third-degree distribution of obscenity to a minor.
If convicted, the first-degree charges each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Second-degree charges carry a maximum of 10 years, and third-degree charges carry a maximum of five years.
Fisler taught social studies in the Washington Township school district from 2014 until June 2023. She is no longer employed by the district or any other school system. Fisler's defense attorney has argued that the text messages cited by the prosecution were taken out of context and that investigators lack sufficient evidence for the allegations.