A married former New Jersey middle school teacher wept in court Thursday after a judge denied her request for bail on charges she sexually assaulted a student multiple times while he was in her class.
Ashley A. Fisler, 36, of Washington Township, appeared via video from Salem County Jail during a detention hearing in Gloucester County Superior Court. She covered her mouth with her hands, wiped her eyes and showed visible distress as Superior Court Judge William Ziegler ruled she must remain jailed until trial.
Fisler, who taught at Orchard Valley Middle School in Sewell, faces six counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault of a minor, one count of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child and one count of official misconduct by a public servant. She has pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors allege Fisler groomed the victim, who was 12 when the alleged abuse began in 2021, and had sexual encounters with him in her classroom and vehicle at least six times when he was 13 and 14. The victim, now an adult, came forward in January, according to court documents. Investigators recovered about 7,500 pages of explicit text messages between Fisler and the victim spanning several years, including communications as recent as January 2026, authorities said.
Gloucester County Prosecutor Kylie Finley argued during the hearing that the messages demonstrated ongoing grooming, manipulation and abuse. She noted Fisler hid the alleged relationship from her husband and others while knowing the victim’s age. A court public safety assessment recommended detention.
Ziegler said the weight of the evidence, including the presumption of incarceration for first-degree offenses, showed Fisler posed a risk to the community.
“There are no conditions which will allow for the defendant’s pretrial release in order to protect the public generally,” the judge ruled.
Fisler’s attorney had argued for release, citing her community ties, lack of prior criminal record and that she is no longer employed as a teacher. She is married; her husband previously proposed to her in the same classroom where some of the alleged assaults occurred, according to reports.
Fisler was arrested March 26. She is due back in court May 14.
The Washington Township School District has said Fisler is no longer employed there or anywhere else as an educator.
Flip the pages for photos of Fisler.
