Teacher sentenced to 10 Years in prison for taking inappropriate photos, videos of female students at Pope John XXIII and Reverend Brown school
NEWTON, NJ (Sussex County) – A teacher was sentenced on Friday on charges related to his illegal recording and taking photos of students while teaching at Pope John XXIII and Reverend Brown schools, according to Acting Sussex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray.
Michael F. Wagner, 41, was sentenced by the Honorable Michael C. Gaus, J.S.C., to 10 years in New Jersey State Prison, subject to the No Early Release Act, which requires him to serve at least 85% of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole, Murray said.
A joint investigation by the Sparta Police Department Detective Bureau and the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office’s Special Victims Unit and High-Tech Crimes Unit began on October 12, 2022, when a teacher at Pope John in Sparta overheard several students discussing how Wagner was recording them during class, Murray said,
The investigation included the forensic examination of Wagner’s cellular telephone, computers, and hard drives, which led to the recovery of hundreds of videos and photos taken by Wagner of students without their knowledge or consent. Detectives also determined Wagner possessed, viewed, or had control over items depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of children, Murray said.
On May 10, 2024, Wagner entered a guilty plea to first-degree child endangerment and second-degree manufacturing of child sexual abuse material.
The sentence also includes the forfeiture of Wagner’s New Jersey teaching license, lifetime parole supervision, and mandatory registration under Megan’s Law.
