Ex-Catholic school teacher who took upskirt photos sentenced to 10 years in N.J. prison

A former teacher at two private schools in Sussex County was sentenced last week to 10 years in state prison for secretly recording upskirt images of students.
Michael F. Wagner, 41, was sentenced Thursday by Judge Michael C. Gaus and will be required to serve at least 85% of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole.
Wagner, who taught at Pope John XXIII Regional High School and Reverend George A. Brown Memorial School, forfeited his teaching license and will be subject to lifetime parole supervision and Megan’s Law registration, according to acting Sussex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray.
Wagner pleaded guilty on May 10 to first-degree child endangerment and second-degree manufacturing of child sexual abuse material.
“During the course of the investigation, police found hundreds of videos and pictures of numerous students taken by Wagner, who would position the electronic device in such a way as to capture and record the underclothing of female students,” the prosecutor’s office said in a news release after the guilty plea.
Authorities said a joint investigation by Sparta police and the prosecutor’s office began in October 2022 when a teacher overheard students discussing Wagner recording them during class.
Analysis of Wagner’s cellphone, computers and hard drives uncovered hundreds of videos and photos secretly taken of students without their consent, as well as other materials depicting the sexual exploitation of children, investigators said.
Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.