New Details In Union Beach Soccer Coach Accused Of Molesting Players

UNION BEACH, NJ — The Union Beach youth soccer coach accused of sex crimes against eight of his players will be held in jail until trial, the Asbury Park Press reported this week.

The man is Ryan Gunsauls, 32. Gunsauls is also a volunteer firefighter in Union Beach, and he used to work as a Union Beach Police dispatcher.

Also this week, the Monmouth County prosecutor released the criminal complaint against Gunsauls. It describes specifically what he is accused of doing:

Gunsauls has been charged with 22 counts related to child sex abuse of his former players, all boys who ranged in ages from 11 to 17. Gunsauls coached for the Union Beach Soccer Association, a youth soccer league for boys.

Prosecutors say Gunsauls texted the boys photos of his penis, and asked the boys to send him photos of their penises in return. He would also forward those photos he received to other boys on the team.

He engaged in sexual conversations with the boys over an unnamed social media app, said prosecutors. He also admitted in court this week that he picked up two of the players and drove them to a ball field in Union Beach, where he would molest them in his car, the Asbury Park Press reported.

This went on for over the past three years, Patch previously reported.

It was only this month, on May 7, that one of the children told an adult what had been happening. The parent told Union Beach Police, who contacted the county prosecutor.

The following is from the criminal complaint:

"It was learned that the defendant had been engaging in inappropriate sexual behavior with multiple juvenile players on teams that he coached. Forensic interviews were conducted by two of the juvenile players. One of the juveniles disclosed that the defendant had asked him to send him a picture of his penis. The same juvenile stated that the defendant sent him a picture of his penis on a social media application. One of the juveniles disclosed that he and the defendant engaged in sexually explicit conversations on a social media application. The defendant provided a statement, at which time he admitted to sending pictures of his penis and sexual materials to multiple juvenile players. He also admitted to receiving sexually explicit images from multiple juvenile players. The defendant further stated that he sent some of the sexually explicit images that he received from multiple juvenile players to another juvenile player. The defendant also admitted to engaging in sexually explicit conversations with multiple juvenile players. The defendant also admitted to engaging in sexual contact with two juvenile players by touching their penises and having them touch his penis."

Anyone with more information about Gunsauls’ activities is urged to contact MCPO Detective Joseph Mason at 800-533-7443.

Gunsauls is charged with eight counts of second-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child, eight counts of third-degree Distributing Obscene Materials to a Minor, two counts of second-degree Attempted Endangering, two counts of fourth-degree Criminal Sexual Contact, and single counts of second-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child via Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM) and third-degree Possession of CSAM.

Initial Patch report on Gunsauls: Union Beach Youth Soccer Coach Accused Of Sex Crimes Against 8 Kids (May 15)