By: Tracie Carter
Mr. Thomas R. Carraher, a 26-year-old Howell Township resident who works as a teacher and sports coach, has been apprehended for allegedly soliciting an explicit act for cash and transmitting explicit content to an individual he believed to be a 14-year-old girl he encountered online.
Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced the charges on Friday, bringing to light a disturbing misuse of social media by a local educator.
Carraher is facing serious charges, including Attempted Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Attempted Promotion of Obscene Material to a Minor, and Attempted Criminal Explicit Contact.
The Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office (MCPO) Internet Crimes Unit conducted a thorough investigation, uncovering Carraher's activities on a social media app where he sought to engage in illicit acts and shared explicit material.
His arrest was executed without incident, leading to his detainment at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution as he awaits further legal proceedings in Monmouth County Superior Court.
Currently employed at Mahala F. Atchison Elementary School in Tinton Falls and serving as a basketball coach at Shrewsbury Borough School, Carraher's arrest has sent shockwaves through the community.
However, officials state that there is no evidence at this time linking the charges to any student or athlete at either institution.
The investigation continues, and authorities are calling for anyone with information about Carraher's activities to come forward and contact MCPO Detective Anthony Lacher at 800-533-7443.
This case underscores the ongoing vigilance needed to protect young individuals in digital spaces and educational environments.