EHT Teacher’s Aide Pleads Not Guilty to Child Porn Charges

A teacher's aide in Egg Harbor Township, who also served as a diving coach at the high school, pleaded not guilty to child porn charges Tuesday.

30-year-old Mark Balesteri, Jr., was offered five years in state prison in exchange for pleading guilty, according to The Press of Atlantic City.

The Press reports Balesteri's attorney requested four weeks to review the offer, which the state and judge agreed to.

Balesteri was arrested and charged this past February in connection to an investigation into the distribution of child abuse and sexual exploitation images through Snapchat.

Following his arrest, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner said, "Sadly, the transmission of child pornography is a pervasive problem throughout our community that does not always receive enough attention. Child predators lurk behind their computer screens and exploit defenseless children with the stroke of a keyboard. These predators occupy many positions of trust from teachers and coaches to many other professions. The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office remains vigilant in rooting them out."