Former middle school teacher charged with sexual assault of minor in Gloucester County
Former Washington Twp. teacher charged with sexual assault of student
A former Washington Township middle school teacher in New Jersey has been charged with multiple counts of sexual assault against a student, shocking the local community.
WASHINGTON TWP, N.J. - A former Orchard Valley Middle School teacher was arrested Thursday and charged with sexual assault of a minor, endangering the welfare of a child, and official misconduct, according to Gloucester County Prosecutor Andrew B. Johns.
Teacher accused of sexual relationship with student
What we know:
Prosecutors say Ashley A. Fisler, 36, was arrested after an investigation revealed she had an unlawful sexual relationship with a student in 2021, when the victim was a minor and Fisler was their teacher.
"The victim described multiple sexual encounters occurring in 2021 in Fisler’s vehicle and in her classroom," according to documents filed in the case.
Investigators say text messages between Fisler and the victim confirmed the unlawful sexual nature of their relationship.
Fisler is no longer employed as a teacher in Washington Township or anywhere else.
Charges and possible penalties
Fisler faces 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.
Each first-degree charge carries a maximum of 20 years in state prison, and each second-degree charge carries a maximum of 10 years.
Fisler is being held in the Salem County Jail and has her first hearing scheduled for Friday, March 27.
If convicted, she could face years in prison.
The backstory:
The investigation began after the victim, now an adult, disclosed the alleged relationship on Jan. 23, 2026.
The Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victim’s and High-Tech Crimes Units, along with the Washington Township Police Department, led the investigation.
Prosecutor Johns credited both agencies for their work in the case.
Parents in the area say they are unsettled by the news.
"Scary, you know you hear about it in Florida or somewhere. This is too close to us, literally right across the street," said Eric Sebastian, a parent of Orchard Valley Middle School students.
The Washington Township School District emailed parents about the charges.
The superintendent said the district takes the safety and well-being of its students extremely seriously and that Fisler has not been employed at the middle school since April 2023.
Local perspective:
Neighbors say they are shocked and sickened by the allegations.
"Vulnerable kids, horrible, trusted adults," said Olivia Axelrod, who lives across the street from the school.
Parents and neighbors say the news is difficult to process, especially given the proximity to their homes and the school.
"If she was parked here, that's too close, but in the classroom. It's even worse," said Sebastian.
Some parents say they checked to see if their children had Fisler as a teacher.
"When I read that email, I'm like Oh My God. It's too close. I was looking back at the year, if my kids was in this year," said Lea Sebastian.
Other neighbors say they see students come and go every day and are shocked by what happened so close to home.
"Honestly it's unbelievable to even think that could happen and also nobody saw it, you know. It's horrible," said Axelrod.
What we don't know:
Authorities have not released further details about the investigation or whether there may be additional victims.
The outcome of Fisler’s first court hearing is not yet known.
The Source: Information from the Gloucester County Prosecutor and interviews with local parents and neighbors.