Ryan Gunsauls, a 32-year-old former volunteer firefighter/police dispatcher from New Jersey was indicted on charges of sexual and physical abuse against children as young as 11 years old. He worked as a youth trainer.
Monmouth County prosecutor claims that Gunsauls first arrest took place in May after a player said he sent him sexually explicit materials online and then asked for the material back.
Eight players have come forward, with the oldest at 17 and the youngest at 11. Investigators claim that the former coach confessed to sending sexually explicit material through team chats. This included images of his penis. He confessed that he picked up two players and drove them to local fields where he molested them both in his vehicle.
Gunsauls informed prosecutors that sexting, molestation, and other sexual misconduct incidents took place over three years.
Gunsauls faces a 30-count indictment that includes:
- Four counts of first-degree and four additional counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child by manufacturing child sexual abuse material;
- Eight counts of second-degree child endangerment by way of sexual conduct;
- Nine counts of distributing obscene materials to minors;
- Two counts of criminal sexual contact;
- One count of second-degree child endangerment through distributing child sexual abuse material;
- One count of third-degree endangering by way of sexual conduct and
- One count of third-degree possession of child sexual abuse material.
The Special Victims Unit and Union Beach PD conducted a joint investigation after the father of a 12-year-old boy brought evidence to the authorities that Gunsauls engaged in sexually explicit conversations with his son over the child’s cell phone. Eight additional alleged victims were revealed.
According to Asbury Park Press “Gunsaul’s attorney, Michael J. Pappa of Hazlet, said that his clients would enter a Not Guilty plea during his arraignment. “
