Somerset County middle school wrestling coach accused of possessing images depicting sexual exploitation and abuse of children
RARITAN BOROUGH, NJ (Somerset County) – A Somerset County middle school wrestling coach has been arrested for allegedly possessing images depicting sexual exploitation and abuse of children, according to Somerset County Prosecutor John McDonald.
Prosecutor McDonald stated that as part of the New Jersey Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Computer Crimes Unit were notified by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) of an apparent upload of images of child exploitation or abuse of a child.
An investigation revealed that Nicholas Cringoli, 52, of Raritan Borough and is employed as a paraprofessional with the Franklin Township (Somerset County) school district, as well as a middle school wrestling coach in Franklin Township, was suspected of possessing numerous images of child sexual abuse material., McDonald said.
On Tuesday, Dec, 17, at around 6:15 a.m., Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office detectives, along with members of the Raritan Borough Police Department, executed a Superior Court ordered search warrant at Cringoli’s residence, McDonald said.
As a result of the search, Cringoli’s electronic devices were seized for further computer forensic examination. An initial forensic examination of these devices revealed numerous images depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child, McDonald said.
Cringoli was arrested and charged on Dec. 17 with second-degree endangering the welfare of child for the possession of items depicting the sexual exploitation and/or abuse of a child. He was lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending his court hearing, McDonald said.
The investigation remains on-going and anyone with information relating to this investigation, contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Computer Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100 or the Raritan Borough Police Department at 908-725-6700 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports, and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.
