Toms River School Worker Charged In Kiddie Porn Probe

A 27-year-old custodian in the Toms River Regional School District faces child pornography counts in an ongoing Ocean County investigation.

Stephen Tisch was arrested at his Waretown home, which authorities believe is the Internet distribution point for lewd images.

“Based upon our investigation we believe there is probably cause to target the defendant,” said Ocean County Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford  in a statement, “as the person involved in the distribution network.”

In a statement. Toms River school Superintendent Frank Roselli said Tisch has been suspended “from all contact with the organization until the charges are resolved.”

Tisch has been employed at Walnut Street Elementary for seven years, say investigators.

Principal Kevin Smith and Interim Assistant Superintendent Mr. Pizza met with the school’s faculty and staff at the school  and will notifying all Walnut Street parents this evening via phone call as well as putting a statement on our web site.

Investigators say they have no reason to believe that Walnut Street Elementary students had contact with Tisch or were subjects of the images.

Tisch is charged with one count each of possession and distribution of child pornography. His bail was set at $75,000 in Ocean County Superior Court in Toms River. He is also prohibited from using the Internet and from having unsupervised contact with minors.

The arrest occurs two days after the arrest of a defendant from Jackson on similar charges.

The investigation is still open. Anyone with information that can help the probe can call Detective James Hill in the Prosecutor’s Office: 732-929-2027.

The following message was posted on the Toms River Regional Schools website:

To the Parent/Guardians of Walnut Street Elementary Students:

On 4/26/12, we were informed by the Ocean County Prosecutors Office that a custodian at Walnut Street Elementary School had been arrested for possession and distribution of child pornography.

According to Marlene Lynch Ford from the Ocean County Prosecutors Office : “At this point there is no evidence that any children at the elementary school have been in contact with the defendant, or that any of the children are the subject of any images.”

The individual was immediately suspended.

Please be assured that none of this alleged activity took place at the school or with our computers. We have filtering software that does not allow any access to pornography

The allegations against the custodian are serious and extremely troubling. If they are proven to be true, then he should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The type of behavior that has been alleged has absolutely no place anywhere in our schools.

The safety of our students is our highest priority.

We will continue to keep parents/guardians informed of any further developments.

If you have any questions, please call the switchboard at 732-505-5500 or e-mail communications@trschools.com