Washington Township coach arrested on child pornography charges

CLIFFVIEW PILOT EXCLUSIVE: Detectives are investigating whether a Washington Township assistant wrestling coach arrested on charges of trafficking in child pornography had any contact with minors, CLIFFVIEW PILOT has learned.

Investigators from the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office arrested Nelson F. Fernandez on Friday after finding images on the computer at his Hudson County home, records show.

Investigators were tipped off by an ex-girlfriend, a law enforcement source with direct knowledge of the incident told CLIFFVIEW PILOT.

Prosecutor's investigators got a warrant and went to his North Bergen home, where they found a "large number" of images of children, the source said.

An investigation is now under way. Anyone with information that could help authorities -- or has specific concerns about possible contact that minors may have had with the defendant -- is asked to call the prosecutor's office Special Victims Unit: (201) 915-1234

Fernandez, who turned 39 two weeks ago and is listed online as an assistant coach with the Junior Cardinals, is charged with child endangerment, as well as child pornography possession and distribution. He remains free on bail pending a court hearing.

Fernandez spends half the week in Washington Township, where his ex-wife lives with their two children, a law enforcement source with direct knowledge of the investigation told CLIFFVIEW PILOT. Other children live next door and throughout the neighborhood.