Elementary School Teacher In South Jersey Shared Child Porn: Prosecutor

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, NJ — An elementary school teacher and Gloucester County resident was arrested Thursday after authorities say he viewed and shared child pornography.

James Adams, 50, teaches at Dr. William Mennies Elementary School in Vineland, according to the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office.

Detectives traced social-media messages containing child pornography to Adams's home in Washington Township, authorities said. Law enforcement carried out a search warrant at his home Thursday and seized multiple electronic devices, including a device of the same make and model that was linked to the messages, according to prosecutors.

Adams admitted to detectives that he received child sexual abuse and exploitation materials (CSAEM) over social media, authorities said.

He was charged with second-degree distribution and third-degree possession of CSAEM.

Adams was placed in the Salem County Correctional Facility, which provides jailing services for Gloucester County. His first court appearance is slated for Friday.

Attorney information for Adams wasn't available in online court records on Thursday.

Adams's current employment status wasn't immediately clear. His name was not listed in Dr. William Mennies Elementary School's online staff directory on Thursday.

Online posts with his name from the school and Vineland's school district appear to have been deleted, including one that congratulates him as the elementary school's "Staff Member of the Month."

The post, which appeared on the Vineland Public Schools website, calls Adams "an incredible 3rd-grade teacher who goes above and beyond for his students." It wasn't immediately clear when he won the award.

Patch called the office of Vineland Superintendent Alfonso Q. Llano Jr. for comment and will update with any response.