Crime & Safety
Howell Man, A Teacher, Asked Minor For Sex, Police Say
Thomas R. Carraher, 26, a Tinton Falls teacher and Shrewsbury school coach, is also accused of sending a graphic image to supposed minor.
FREEHOLD, NJ — A Howell resident - and a teacher in Tinton Falls and a sports coach in Shrewsbury - has been arrested, charged with soliciting a sexual act for cash and sending sexually explicit media of himself to a person he thought was a 14-year-old girl he met online, authorities announced Friday.
Thomas R. Carraher, 26, is charged with attempted endangering the welfare of a child, attempted promotion of obscene material to a minor, and attempted criminal sexual contact, said Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago.
An investigation by the prosecutor's office Internet Crimes Unit showed that Carraher recently used a social media app in his attempt to solicit the sex act, authorities said.
Find out what's happening in Howellfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
He sent a graphic image and video of himself, after which he also attempted to solicit a graphic image from the person with whom he was communicating, authorities said.
He was arrested without incident Thursday and then transported to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold, pending future proceedings in Monmouth County Superior Court, authorities said.
Find out what's happening in Howellfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Carraher is employed as a teacher at the Mahala F. Atchison Elementary School in Tinton Falls, and also works as a basketball coach at the Shrewsbury Borough School.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Carraher is a health and physical educator at the school and the women’s basketball head coach in Shrewsbury
His profile states that his "first full year of teaching was at Achievers Early College Prep where I taught 6th and 7th grade Health and PE. Next, I was a long term substitute for Shrewsbury where I accepted my current head coaching position."
The prosecutor's office said that, at this time, there is no indication that the charges Carraher now faces relate "directly to any student or student-athlete at either school."
But investigators are seeking additional information about Carraher’s activities.
Anyone with such information is being asked to contact MCPO Detective Anthony Lacher at 800-533-7443.
The case has been assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Joseph Competello.
Carraher is being represented by Emeka Nkwuo, with an office in Freehold.
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