A New Jersey middle school teacher, Ashley Fisler, 36, has been indicted on 12 new charges, including first-degree sexual assault of a minor and manufacturing child sexual abuse material, stemming from allegations of sexual abuse and grooming involving a former student. The charges were announced Wednesday by the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office.
Previously arrested in March, Fisler now faces additional counts of second-degree pattern of misconduct, third-degree possession of child sexual abuse material, and third-degree distribution of obscenity to a minor. These join earlier charges of six counts of first-degree sexual assault, one count of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and one count of second-degree official misconduct.
Prosecutors allege that Fisler, who taught at Orchard Valley Middle School in Washington Township, sexually assaulted the student on at least four occasions in 2021 and 2022. Investigators have uncovered approximately 7,500 pages of text messages and communications that prosecutors describe as sexually suggestive. These messages reportedly detail the alleged inappropriate relationship, which prosecutors claim continued even after the student was no longer enrolled in her class.
During a court hearing in April, Assistant Prosecutor Kylie Finley presented excerpts from the messages, including one from December 2023 where the student reportedly confided about struggling with frequent erections at school. Fisler's alleged response, according to Finley, was, "Oh my God, that's fantastic." Finley also stated that Fisler allegedly sent incriminating photos to the student while he was a minor and offered to buy him a sex toy.
One text message attributed to the student, sent in January, stated, "I’ve had to try really hard to rebuild the things you broke inside of me. You destroyed things inside of me. You stripped me of my innocence." Prosecutors contend that Fisler admitted in messages to putting the student in inappropriate positions, writing, "I feel like I forced you to grow up abnormally quick."
Fisler's attorney, Rocco Cipparone, has argued that the prosecution's presentation of "selective, salacious texts" lacks context and that no messages from the alleged assault period were provided. Cipparone also suggested that the alleged victim contacted an attorney before reporting the incident to the police, implying a potential monetary motive.
During the April virtual court appearance where she was denied bail, Fisler appeared distressed. The judge noted that Fisler had "covered her tracks" for five years and deemed the case against her strong, concluding that she must be detained pending trial. Prosecutors characterized the case as a "pattern of six years of grooming, manipulation and abuse" rather than isolated incidents.
Fisler began her nine-year career with the Washington Township school district in 2014 and remained until her separation in April 2023. Social media posts indicate she was nominated twice for 'Teacher of the Year' and received an award for 'Most Caring' teacher. Prosecutors stated Fisler told police she left her position because she "blurred the lines with another student."
Fisler is being held at the Salem County Jail. If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Court records do not yet indicate a plea for the charges against her.