SOUTH TOMS RIVER, NJ — William Gleason, 68, of South Toms River, was charged on November 24, 2023, with multiple sexual offenses involving a minor. The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office disclosed that the charges include two counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault, one count of Sexual Assault, Aggravated Criminal Sexual Contact, and two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit, in collaboration with the South Toms River Police Department Detective Bureau, uncovered that Gleason sexually assaulted a minor who lived in his home from 2015 to 2020. Following these revelations, Gleason surrendered at South Toms River Police Headquarters on November 25 and was detained at the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer highlighted the necessity of publicizing this case, given Gleason’s past roles as the head of the South Toms River Recreation Commission and a foster parent.
Recognizing the sensitive nature of such incidents, Billhimer nevertheless felt it essential to inform the public due to Gleason’s previous positions of trust and authority. The Prosecutor urged anyone with relevant information to contact Detective Delaney Huber of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office or Detective Timothy Meier of the South Toms River Police Department.