Wrestling coach charged with child porn, growing pot

Authorities say a Union County high school wrestling coach and middle school gym teacher has been arrested and charged with possessing child pornography and running a marijuana growing operation.

Justin Bozinta (NJ Office of the Attorney General)

Acting Attorney General John Hoffman said Thursday that 37-year-old Justin Bozinta, of Roselle, was arrested last Friday after investigators found that he had uploaded several images of child pornography to a social media account. Hoffman said that detectives found 40 marijuana plants in his home when they served a search warrant.

The OAG's investigation revealed that Bozinta uploaded several images of child pornography to a Google+ account using a school computer. The Mac Book pro and a desktop computer issued to Bozinta by the school were seized by law enforcement along with other equipment at his home.

“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,” said Hoffman in a statement. “For a teacher to engage in those crimes, which drive so much harm and abuse of children, is a shocking betrayal. Fortunately, we were able to uncover the dark side of Bozinta’s life and eliminate the danger he potentially posed to students.”

Bozinta is the wrestling coach at East Orange Campus High School and a middle school teacher at the Costley Middle School in East Orange. He has worked for the East Orange district since 2000.

In a statement to NJ.com, East Orange superintendent Gloria Scott would only say the district is co-operating in the investigation.

It wasn't immediately known if he had an attorney. He is at the Union County Jail on $275,000 bail.

He is charged with third-degree possession of child pornography and faces first-degree drug charges.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.