FREEHOLD – Police said that a man sexually assaulted his student and showed her pornography. Authorities warn that there could have been more victims.
Gustavo Barrientos, 53, of Tinton Falls, allegedly victimized the 10-year-old female student on multiple occasions while he was her teacher in the Long Branch School District. A former elementary school teacher, he is no longer employed by the district.
Police are concerned that there could have been other victims. Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Todd Coleman of the Long Branch Police Department at 732-222-1000 or Detective Sergeant Shawn Murphy of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victim’s Bureau at 732-431-7160 ext. 7032. Anonymous tips can be provided by calling 1-800-671-4400; by downloading and using the free P3 Tips mobile app (available on iOS and Android – p3tips.com/1182), by calling 800-671-4400 or by going to the website at monmouthcountycrimestoppers.com.
The investigation was done by the Long Branch Police Department and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victim’s Bureau. He was taken into custody on February 14. He remains in prison until his detention hearing.
He was charged with first degree Aggravated Sexual Assault and second degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child. If convicted, he faces up to life imprisonment on the aggravated sexual assault charge and up to 10 years imprisonment on the endangering charge. He would be on parole supervision for the rest of his life and would have to register as a sex offender under Megan’s Law.
Charges are merely accusations until proven in a court of law.
