Former NJ teacher cries in court after judge rules she won’t be getting bail

A former middle school teacher accused of sexually assaulting a student cried in court on Thursday when a judge told her she would not be getting bail.

The judge took 24 hours to decide the fate of Ashley Fisler before deciding on April 2 that she will stay in a Salem County jail until her trial.

Prosecutors said that the 36-year-old former teacher groomed the victim starting at the age of 12 when he was a student in her Washington Township classroom.

“There is the potential for witness intimidation if the defendant is released,” the judge said.

Fisler is accused of sexually assaulting her student several times and continued to text him up until January of 2026.

He is now 18, a legal adult, and went to police in January to report the abuse.

“The defendant was able to surreptitiously keep this relationship between herself and the victim private. That is, she hid the relationship from her husband, other people and all others and continued this relationship knowing his precise age,” the judge said.

On Wednesday, April 1, the prosecution laid out their case and pushed for no bail.

“She would drive them to the Clusters apartment complex and they would have sex in her car. While the sexual contact stopped in 2022, the sexual conversations did not.”

The prosecution revealed that there are 7,500 pages of text messages between Fisler and the victim between 2023 and 2026.

Fisler’s attorney said that she is married, no longer a teacher and not a flight risk.

“His texts are graphic and direct as any I’ve seen from any adult. I am not saying he is not the age he is, but this is not a babe in the woods scenario,” her attorney said.

Fisler is charged with six counts of first-degree sexual assault of a minor, one count of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and one count of second-degree official misconduct of a public servant.

The judge gave Fisler’s attorney the right to appeal the decision and set a May 14th court date for the former teacher.

Resources for victims of sexual assault are available through the National Sexual Violence Resources Center and the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 800-656-4673.