Former teacher and soccer coach, Axel Palomares, has been charged with manufacturing child sexual abuse material
Every day, parents send their children to school with trust – trust that they will learn, trust that they will be cared for, and trust that their teachers and school employees will keep their children safe.
Recent news about a teacher in Edison, New Jersey calls into question that sense of trust.
Axel I. Palomares, a Spanish teacher and soccer coach at St. Thomas Aquinas High School, was charged with manufacturing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in May of 2025. Palomares allegedly recorded kids at two malls and at least one student at St. Thomas Aquinas. The Diocese of Metuchen, which oversees the school, said that some of Palomares’ alleged crimes took place at the school.
The investigation pertaining to Palomares is active and ongoing at this time. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact law enforcement.
“When a teacher abuses their position of power, it shatters a child’s sense of safety, ability to trust, and overall well-being. It compounds the harm caused by the crime itself, and causes lifelong trauma.” – Trusha Goffe, attorney
Clergy with Accusations of Child Sexual Abuse Who’ve Worked at St. Thomas Aquinas
Below is a list of New Jersey clergy who worked with children at St. Thomas Aquinas High School and have also been credibly accused of abuse. It is important to note that the allegations of abuse may not have been reported to occur at St. Thomas Aquinas.
Monsignor Richard C. Brietske
Principal of St. Thomas Aquinas High School
- Ordained in 1973 and was the founding principal of St. Thomas Aquinas High School.
- Brietske is on the Diocese of Trenton’s list of clergy who have been credibly accused of the sexual abuse of a minor. According to Diocese’s list, he is credibly accused of abusing one victim.
- Details on the accusations against Brietske are not available to the public.
Father Brendan Henry Williams
Priest at St. Thomas Aquinas High School
- Williams was assigned to St. Thomas Aquinas from 1976 – 1979.
- Williams is on the Diocese of Trenton’s list of clergy who have been credibly accused of the sexual abuse of a minor. According to the Diocese’s list, he is credibly accused of abusing multiple victims.
- In 2019, Williams was arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 13 years old on multiple occasions between 1997 – 1999.
Historical Abuse at New Jersey Schools
St. Thomas Aquinas is not the first school in New Jersey to have accusations of horrific crimes relating to children. Below are some other cases of teachers or school administrators who abused their position of power and harmed children.
Chartwell Manor
In 1986, Chartwell Manor Headmaster and teacher Terry Lynch (Terence Michael Lynch) was indicted on more than 100 counts of sexually abusing 14 minor students. Home to a culture of abuse and secrecy, the institution allowed perpetrators to abuse students unchecked for years. Other accused staff members include Peter Ahlers and Pamela Lamar. Chartwell Manor School has since closed.
Delbarton School
Delbarton School was established in 1939 and is a nationally renowned elite private boys’ Catholic school located in Morristown. In 2018, for the first time, Delbarton and St. Mary’s Abbey publicly acknowledged the accusations of 30 individuals who allege sexual abuse of 13 priests and monks who worked at the school.
Fr. Timothy Brennan, a former teacher and guidance counselor at Delbarton, is one of those 13. Brennan is named in over 20 lawsuits accusing him of sexual abuse. At least eight of those lawsuits were filed by former Delbarton students. According to court documents, Brennan admitted to abusing approximately 50 boys.
Fr. Luke Travers, former Delbarton teacher and headmaster, was named in a lawsuit accusing him of sexual misconduct by a former student. Travers has denied the allegations.
Time to Act
The abuse at Chartwell Manor and Delbarton remind us of an important lesson – that when survivors and witnesses come forward, more survivors often follow. It’s statistically unlikely a child sexual predator stops at one victim.
If you were abused at St. Thomas Aquinas, its important you know you are not alone and can find support. Our frequently asked questions page provides answers to common questions survivors have, as well as helpful resources.
Anyone with information that might be helpful to the investigation surrounding the alleged crimes of Axel I. Palomares should call Detective Kenneth McGarry of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-745-3140.