JACKSON — A former Jackson firefighter has pleaded guilty to charges involving the sexual assault of four children.
John “Wes” Ackley, 44, entered his guilty plea on July 19 in state Superior Court, Toms River. He remains in the Ocean County Jail, without bail, awaiting sentencing.
Ackley was scheduled to stand trial in August on his 2010 indictment on charges of sexually assaulting two 4-year-olds (a boy and a girl), an 8-year-old girl and a 12-yearold boy between August 2008 and November 2009.
“I think this is a just result for all of the victims in this matter,” Senior Assistant Ocean County Prosecutor Laura Pierro said. “We are relieved that he pleaded guilty and accepted his responsibility instead of forcing these children onto the [witness] stand.”
The original bail of $250,000 that was posted byAckley in bail bonds was upgraded to $300,000 cash bail, but not posted, after Ackley violated an order that directed him not to have contact with any of his victims.
While he was free on the $250,000 bail, Ackley fled to Minnesota. He was apprehended on June 27 by U.S. marshals in conjunction with the Jackson Police Department, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and the Carver County sheriff’s deputies near a relative’s house in Chaska, Minn.
“Credit really belongs to Detective Melissa Matthews of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit, as well as to Detective Mitch Cowit of the Jackson Police Department for their efforts in the case,” Pierro said.
Pierro said Ackley’s bail was revoked and the $250,000 was forfeited once he was returned to Ocean County from Minnesota.
Asecond case involving an alleged fifth victim and the creation of child pornography is still pending against Ackley.
Authorities said evidence regarding the fifth victim was uncovered when forensic investigators were searching a computer and thumb drive that had been seized in the investigation.
With that discovery, two additional second-degree child endangerment charges and third-degree invasion of privacy charges were filed against Ackley.
“It is my understanding that he will be pleading guilty to endangering the welfare of the fifth victim,” Pierro said.
A sentencing date for Ackley on the charges to which he has already pleaded guilty has not been set, pending a psychological evaluation.