Lakewood High School assistant principal arrested on child pornography charges

Show Caption Hide Caption Child Pornography Charges, Explained Distribution, possession, production - do you know the difference?

LAKEWOOD — An assistant principal at Lakewood High School has been arrested on child pornography charges, authorities said.

Major Finklin, 63, of Toms River, was charged with possession of child pornography by Brick Township police Aug. 16, said Al Della Fave, a spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.

Della Fave confirmed Finklin's position in the Lakewood Public School District.

He said he wasn't aware of the circumstances behind Finklin's arrest and declined to discuss the evidence against him. He said the prosecutor's office took over the investigation to allow the county's High-Tech Crime Unit to remove potential evidence stored on computer hard drives.

"Right now on our part it’s basically a continued investigation," he said. "We will review what they (Brick police) have to date to see if there’s anything additional that we’ll have to add."

Brick police referred comment to the prosecutor's office.

Finklin was released on summons after his arrest, Della Fave said.

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Finklin has worked in the district since 2003 and earns a $117,000 salary, according to district records.

Lakewood Board of Education attorney Michael Inzelbuch declined to discuss specifics of the case, noting that all people are innocent until proven guilty. He said after learning of the allegations, Finklin's access to school buildings and computers was cut off.

Inzelbuch said a message was sent to parents Tuesday about the arrest. Learn more about child pornography charges in the video above.

“The district has commenced an investigation,” Inzelbuch said. “Per district policy any employee is suspended with pay.”

Della Fave said anyone with information relevant to the investigation should contact the prosecutor's office at 732-929-2027. Residents with concerns about Finklin's employment should contact the Lakewood school district, he said.

Finklin could not be reached for comment.

In 2005, Finklin was involved in an altercation that led to the end of former head football coach Donald Barnes’ teaching career. Barnes was charged with aggravated assault and other crimes after he cut Finklin with a serrated kitchen knife during a night of drinking at Barnes’ home, according to a decision from the State Board of Examiners, which licenses teachers. Barnes completed a pre-trial intervention program and the charges were dismissed, the decision says.

But Barnes was suspended, resigned from the Lakewood district in 2006 and lost his teaching certificate in 2011, according to the Board of Examiners. Finklin was not charged in the incident.

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Andrew Goudsward: @AGoudsward; 732-897-4555; agoudsward@gannettnj.com