TRENTON — A gym teacher at the Costley Middle School in East Orange ran a major indoor marijuana farm in his home, which was discovered when police executed a search warrant as part of a child pornography investigation, state authorities said today.
Justin Bozinta, 37, of Roselle, who is also the head wrestling coach at East Orange Campus High School, was arrested Friday after allegedly uploading child pornography to a Google+ photo account using a computer at a school facility, the Attorney General's Office said.
Authorities said the investigation began with a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which indicated that images were uploaded from an IP address in a school district facility using an email address later traced to Bozinta.
"It's appalling that a man entrusted with instructing and mentoring young students as a teacher and coach allegedly was dealing drugs and sexually exploiting children by viewing child pornography online," acting state Attorney General John Hoffman said.
An attorney for Bozinta could not be reached for comment. Authorities said he has been an employee of the East Orange School District since 2000. The most recent available state pension records indicate Bozinta earned $86,592 in 2013.
The superintendent, Gloria Scott, declined to provide any personnel information, including what action, if any, had been taken, whether he had been suspended, or whether he would be fired.
"I am aware of the situation and I am cooperating fully with the authorities," Scott said in a statement. "We cannot share any personnel information."
She added the district would be communicating with parents, students and teachers.
The state public records law requires public agencies to release certain personnel information including an individual's name, title, position, salary, payroll record, length of service, date of separation and the reason, and the amount and type of any pension.
When presented with the law, the district still declined to provide information about Bozinta's employment, but added he "will not be working" there "in any capacity."
On the day of his arrest, police searched his home on Sheridan Avenue and examined his hard drive, finding several images of child pornography, authorities said. Two laptop computers, including one issued to Bozinta by the school district, were seized, along with a desktop computer which Bozinta allegedly could access in the high school athletic office.
Authorities said that, while executing the search warrant, police found a major "grow room" in Bozinta's home with approximately 40 marijuana plants, a special ventilation system, high-powered lights and chemicals used as part of the growing process.
They also seized seven handguns, four rifles, a shotgun and a homemade silencer from his home. Authorities, citing an ongoing investigation, declined to say whether Bozinta created any pornography, or whether it included or was shared with students. They also declined to say whether he shared with or dealt marijuana to any students.
Authorities asked those with information about the case to call 1-866-TIPS-4CJ.
"It is critical that we determine if others were involved and whether his conduct impacted students in the district," Elie Honig, director of the state Division of Criminal Justice, said.
Bozinta was charged with first-degree operating a marijuana production facility — which carries a sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison — as well as possession with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana, and possession within 500 feet of a public park, authorities said. He was also charged with possession of child pornography, possession of a weapon in the court of committing a drug offense, and possession of a prohibited device, in connection with the seized silencer, authorities said.
