South Jersey High School Coach Busted For Child Porn: Prosecutor

A New Jersey high school coach was busted for sharing images that show child abuse and sexual exploitation images via Snapchat, according to prosecutors.

Mark Balesteri, Jr., 29, of Egg Harbor Township, a teacher’s aide and swimming coach at Egg Harbor Township High School, was arrested Thursday, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner announced.

The morning arrest happened after an investigation that lasted several months that focused on Balesteri's online activity, the ACPO said. The arrest also happened after the execution of a knock-and-announce search warrant on a residence in Egg Harbor Township.

“Sadly, the transmission of child pornography is a pervasive problem throughout our community that does not always receive enough attention. Child predators lurk behind their computer screens and exploit defenseless children with the stroke of a keyboard. These predators occupy many positions of trust from teachers and coaches to many other professions. The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office remains vigilant in rooting them out,” said Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner.

The warrant was executed by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office with the assistance of officers and detectives from the Egg Harbor Township Police Department and New Jersey State Police, the ACPO said.

Balesteri was arrested and processed without incident and transported to the Atlantic County Justice Facility. The case is being investigated by ACPO Detective Deborah Specht and prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Dave Ruffenach.

Egg Harbor Township Municipal Court Judge Marc Nehmad authorized the following charges against Mark Balesteri, Jr.:

• Endangering the Welfare of Children – Distribution of Child Abuse and Sexual Exploitation Images (Second Degree)
• Endangering the Welfare of Children – Possession of Child Abuse and Sexual Exploitation Images with the Intent to Distribute (Second Degree)
• Endangering the Welfare of Children – Possession of Child Abuse and Sexual Exploitation Images (Second Degree)

This investigation was initiated based upon information received by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office through the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program (ICAC).

Anyone with information involving serious crimes is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7800 or go to the Prosecutor’s Office Web site at http://www.acpo.org/tips.html and provide information by filling out the form anonymously on the Submit a Tip page.

People can also call Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234 or 1-800-658-8477 (TIPS) or visit the Crime Stoppers Website at http://www.crimestoppersatlantic.com/. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those who commit crimes in Atlantic County.

ACPO photo