Joseph Dalessandro of Washington Township allegedly had illicit images on his cell phone and shared them through a messenger app. He faces multiple charges.
By Matt Skoufalos | December 15, 2023
A Haddon Heights High School teacher has been charged with possession and distribution of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) after investigators alleged that they found “11 videos of confirmed child pornography” on his cell phone.
According to charging documents filed with the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office (GCPO), 37-year-old Joseph Dalessandro of Washington Township was arrested Thursday and charged with multiple criminal offenses.
Dalessandro is charged with second-degree possession of CSAM with intention to distribute, second-degree distribution of CSAM, and third-degree child endangerment.
Investigators received a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that materials had been both uploaded and downloaded from Dalessandro’s IP address “on multiple occasions.”
In an affidavit of probable cause filed in the arrest, Detective Dan Farid wrote that he observed child sexual abuse material on Dalessandro’s cell phone. In addition to allegedly having the files on his phone, Dalessandro is alleged to have transmitted “11 videos of confirmed child pornography” via the KIK messaging app.
Haddon Heights Superintendent of Schools Carla Bittner confirmed that Dalessandro has been employed with the district since September 1, 2021.
District families received a letter from Bittner on the 14th to notify them that a staffer at the high school had been arrested, placed on a leave of absence, and barred from the district property:
I am writing to inform you that we have been notified by law enforcement that a high school staff member has been placed in police custody. We are cooperating with the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office as they investigate the allegations.
The staff member has been placed on a leave of absence, is not permitted to contact students and their family members, and is not permitted on district property. At this time, we are not able to share additional information but can assure you that we are treating this matter with the utmost importance.
As information regarding this situation becomes public, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s counselor if your child needs assistance. We continue to be dedicated to providing a safe and enriching learning environment for our students and staff, and it is our pleasure to be of support in any way we can.
Dalessandro is currently being held at the Salem County jail.
All persons charged with crimes are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. An arrest is not a conviction.
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