Pine Hill Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Inappropriate Conversations With 17 Children

A Pine Hill man was sentenced to 15 years in state prison after admitting to engaging in sexually explicit conversations with students he taught, Camden County Prosecutor Mary Eva Colalillo and Pine Hill Police Chief Chris Winters announced Friday afternoon.

Charles Reilly, 45, was sentenced to 10 years after pleading guilty to three counts of official misconduct, and he must serve five years of that term before he is eligible for parole.

He was also sentenced to a consecutive five years after pleading guilty to 17 counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child and a count of attempted endangering the welfare of a child.

In rendering the sentence Judge Frederick Schuck found as aggravating factors the likelihood that Reilly would reoffend and the need to deter Reilly and other from committing similar crimes.

Reilly admitted to engaging in inappropriate sexual communications with 17 male Pine Hill Middle School students from 2006 to 2011. The victims ranged in age from 12 to 16 years old.

Reilly was a track and field coach, is a former councilman, the American Legion Commander and assisted with The American Legion Boys State program.

“Crimes such as these devastate a community,” Pine Hill Police Chief Chris Winter said. “The commission of these crimes by an individual privileged to serve the community and earn their trust significantly increases the impact. Due to the bravery of the young men involved in the case to bring these crimes to the attention of their loved ones, Reilly’s crimes were stopped and he is being held accountable to society for his actions. Now the families and community can begin the healing process.”
Parents of two of the students victimized by Reilly attended the hearing and offered statements.

“He took advantage of his students and their parents by winning our trust,” Sarah Watson, whose son was one of the victims, said. “He was a mentor to my son. He manipulated all of us by creating his career and extracurricular activities so he could fulfill his disgusting behavior.”
The communication included conversations during which Reilly asked the students to bring semen stained tissues to school so he could make art projects with them.

A Camden County Police Detective posed as one of Reilly’s students online during the investigation and those conversations led to the attempted endangering charge.