TOMS RIVER – An Ocean County teacher is facing a number of serious charges including official misconduct and child endangerment. Authorities believe he took nude pictures of himself inside a classroom before posting them on social media. He is also accused of sending inappropriate images of himself to a student last year.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer confirmed 48-year-old Kyle Banner of Brick Township is suspended from his teaching job without pay and remains lodged at the Ocean County Jail after surrendering to the Toms River Police Department.
According to a press release from Billhimer’s office, on April 23, 2023, administrators at Toms River Intermediate North were alerted that Banner, a teacher at both Toms River Intermediate North and Ocean County College, posted pornographic photographs of himself to his public Twitter profile.
On April 24, 2023, Banner was suspended from his teaching position without pay.
A thorough investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, Toms River Township Police Department Detective Bureau and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, determined that students had viewed the pornographic images by accessing Banner’s public Twitter profile.
In a further probe, investigators learned that the photographs were taken in his classroom at Toms River Intermediate North. During the course of the investigation, Detectives also discovered that Banner sent inappropriate photographs of himself to a student via Snapchat in October of 2022.
Detectives also recovered numerous images of Banner engaging in sexual conduct with himself in his classroom at Toms River Intermediate North.
On May 23, 2023, Banner surrendered himself to the Toms River Township Police Department. He was processed and transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he is currently lodged pending a detention hearing.
Banner was charged with Official Misconduct and three counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
“I would encourage parents to have a conversation with their children if they had this defendant as a teacher. If anyone has additional information regarding this investigation, please contact Detective Graham Borg of the Toms River Township Police Department at 732- 349-0150, or Detective Stephanie Bayha of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-929-2027, extension 3861,” Prosecutor Billhimer stated.
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, Toms River Township Police Department Detective Bureau and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit for their collaborative efforts in connection with this investigation.
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