Crime & Safety

Former Westfield Teacher Guilty In Child Pornography Case: Officials

More than 150 different files were found, authorities said.

WESTFIELD, NJ — A former teacher at Westfield High School admitted to having explicit images of minors, according to the United States Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey.

Matthew Ozol, 40 of Jersey City, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. He resigned in 2022 from Westfield Public Schools where he served as a math teacher, district documents show.

Beginning in 2022, text messages Ozol sent and received on encrypted services showed a desire to sexually abuse children, authorities said.

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One of the chats Ozol was a part of was called "Baby Rapist."

In August 2025, authorities carried out a search warrant at his home and were able to find more than 100 photos and 75 videos on his devices that showed child pornography. Many of these files involved sexual abuse of infants and toddlers.

Find out what's happening in Westfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Ozol is scheduled to be sentenced in August. He faces a maximum of 20 years in jail and a $250,000 fine.

The case was part of the Department of Justice's "Project Safe Childhood," a nationwide effort to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.

Additional information about the program can be found by visiting the DOJ website.

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