Saint Thomas Aquinas Teacher Arrested by The Internet Crimes Against Children Unit

Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Chief Thomas Bryan of the
Edison Police Department announced that Axel Palomares, 50, of Morristown, who
is a teacher at Saint Thomas Aquinas High School, has been arrested and charged with the
Manufacturing of Child Sexual Abuse Material, Endangering the Welfare of a Child,
Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material and Invasion of Privacy.

After receiving a cyber tip from the New Jersey State Police, an investigation was
conducted by Detective Ken McGarry of the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit at the
Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office. As a result of that investigation, Palomares was
charged.

Palomares was arrested on May 27, 2025, without incident at his home in
Morristown, New Jersey, after the execution of a search warrant at that location.

Thereafter, Palomares was charged with second-degree Manufacturing of Child Sexual
Abuse Material, second-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child, third-degree
Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material, and fourth-degree Invasion of Privacy.

Palomares is being held at the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Facility pending the
results of a Pre-Trial Detention hearing.

The investigation is active and continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call
Detective McGarry of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-745-3140.

As is the case with all criminal defendants, the charges against Palomares are
accusations, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Prosecutor Ciccone would like to thank Prosecutor Carroll and the Morris County
Prosecutor’s Office, the Morris Township Police Department, Homeland Security
Investigations, New Jersey State Police and the Edison Police Department for their collaborative efforts in investigating and safely securing the arrest of the suspect.