FREEHOLD – A former Union Beach football coach has been charged with committing various sex crimes against the student-athletes he coached.
Ryan Gunsauls, 32, confessed to investigators that he had inappropriate sexual conversations with players on his team, sent them pornographic material in group chats, sent photos of his penis to players, asked them to send him photos of their penises and forwarded the photos he sent to other players, prosecutors said. The former police dispatcher and volunteer firefighter also admitted to having sexual contact with two of the players. He picked up the players from their homes, drove them to a baseball field in Union Beach and sexually assaulted them in his car, authorities said.
Gunsauls told authorities the interactions lasted more than three years, a prosecutor said.
The 30-count indictment enhances some of the charges and expands on those that Gunsauls originally faced, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago said in a statement.
Union Beach youth soccer coach arrested for child abuse
Ryan Gunsauls, accused of sexual abuse and distribution of sexually explicit images to children, appears in Monmouth County District Court.
The charges are:
- Four counts of first degree and four additional counts of second degree of endangering the welfare of a child by producing child sexual abuse material;
- Eight counts of second-degree child endangerment through sexual conduct;
- Nine cases of distributing obscene material to minors;
- Two counts of criminal sexual contact;
- One count of second-degree child endangerment through distribution of child sexual abuse material;
- One count of third-degree sexual endangerment; and
- One count of possession of child sexual abuse material in the third degree.
Gunsaul’s attorney, Michael J. Pappa of Hazlet, said his client will plead not guilty at arraignment.
In May, a judge ordered Gunsauls to be held in the Monmouth County Jail pending the outcome of his case.
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In early May, the District Attorney’s Special Victims Unit and Union Beach police launched an investigation after the father of a 12-year-old soccer player discovered inappropriate conversations between his son and the coach on his cellphone and contacted police. During the course of the investigation, eight additional victims, ages 11 to 17, came forward and were interviewed, Santiago said.
Santiago urges anyone with further information about Gunsaul’s activities to call Detective Joseph Mason of the District Attorney’s Office at 800-533-7443.
Ken Serrano covers breaking news, crime and investigations. Reach him at [email protected]
