Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald announced the arrest of Kenneth Vaughn, 35, a former Cheltenham Elementary School teacher, in connection with the distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material, according to officials.
According to authorities, the New Jersey State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force alerted the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office after receiving a Cyber Tipline Report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The report involved files depicting the sexual exploitation of minors shared through a social media and messaging platform.
An investigation by the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Unit identified Vaughn as the suspect. On Aug. 26, 2025, detectives, assisted by the Somerville Police Department, executed a court-authorized search warrant at Vaughn’s residence and vehicle, seizing electronic devices for forensic analysis. Vaughn was taken into custody without incident.
He has been charged with second-degree distribution and third-degree possession of child sexual abuse materials. Vaughn was initially held at the Somerset County Jail before being released pending a future court appearance.
Investigators also confirmed that Vaughn was employed as an elementary school teacher in Branchburg, N.J, at the time of the arrest. Prior to that, he had taught at Cheltenham Elementary School.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Authorities are asking anyone with information related to this case to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Unit at (908) 231-7100, the Somerville Police Department at (908) 725-0331, or to submit anonymous tips via the STOPit app (access code: SOMERSETNJ) or the Somerset County Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All information will be kept confidential.
