Union Beach Youth Soccer Coach Accused Of Sex Crimes Against 8 Kids

UNION BEACH, NJ — A youth soccer coach from Union Beach had sexually-explicit conversations with eight of the youth soccer players under his supervision, two of whom he is also accused of touching inappropriately, alleges Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago.

Ryan Gunsauls, 32, is also accused of distributing sexually-explicit images with the minors, who ranged in ages from 11 to 17. News 12 reports he sent the minor boys sexual photos of himself.

The charges against Gunsauls were announced in this press release Tuesday by Deputy First Assistant Monmouth County Prosecutor Chris Decker.

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

The investigation started last week, when a juvenile told an adult Gunsauls had been soliciting and distributing sexual photos with him on an unnamed social media app.

Union Beach Police and the Special Victims' Unit of the Monmouth County Prosecutor's office then got involved: As the investigation continued, additional victims, ranging in age from 11 to 17, were identified and contacted for interviews, said police.

NJ101.5 reports Gunsauls coached for the Union Beach Soccer Association, which is a soccer league for boys.

Gunsauls was arrested without incident in Hazlet on Friday, May 10. He is currently being held in the Monmouth County Jail pending his first scheduled hearing Monday in Monmouth County Superior Court.

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.