Ashley A. Fisler, a former middle school teacher in New Jersey who was already accused of sexually assaulting a student, has been indicted on 12 counts following an investigation that uncovered extensive text messages dating back to 2021.
According to the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office, Fisler was arrested in March and charged on March 26 with six counts of first-degree sexual assault of a minor, one count of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and one count of second-degree official misconduct. A grand jury later indicted her on an additional 12 charges, including sexual assault of a minor, manufacturing child sexual abuse material, and a pattern of official misconduct.
The alleged victim, now an adult, informed authorities in January that he had an “unlawful sexual relationship” with Fisler when he was a minor at Orchard Valley Middle School. He described multiple sexual encounters occurring in Fisler’s vehicle and her classroom during 2021.
Prosecutors stated investigators recovered approximately 7,500 pages of text messages between Fisler and the victim from May 2023 to January 2026. Gloucester County Assistant Prosecutor Kylie Finley confirmed these messages documented a pattern of grooming and manipulation, including specific sexual acts the victim disclosed.
In one message dated December 2023, the victim told Fisler he was struggling in school because he was getting erections more frequently. Fisler responded with: “Oh my God, that’s fantastic.”
On January 20, 2025, the victim wrote to Fisler: “I’ve had to try really hard to rebuild the things you broke inside of me. You destroyed things inside of me. You stripped me of my innocence.”
Fisler admitted in text messages that she caused harm and stated: “I take the blame for all of this” and “I feel like I forced you to grow up abnormally quick.”
Defense attorney Rocco Cipparone argued that the prosecution failed to provide evidence from 2021 due to technical limitations. He claimed the texts cited by prosecutors were sent years after the alleged crimes and were taken out of context.
The victim reported Fisler left her teaching position in 2023 because a student had a hickey on her neck and requested makeup cover-up, according to the prosecution.
Fisler was denied bail and is being held in Salem County Jail pending trial. Eric M. Hibbs, superintendent of Washington Township Public Schools, released a statement after Fisler’s arrest.
