LONG BRANCH (NJ)
NJ.com [Iselin, NJ]
May 18, 2026
By Anthony G. Attrino
Four former elementary school students who claim they were sexually abused or inappropriately touched by a teacher in Monmouth County have settled their lawsuits for more than $3.7 million, court records show.
The victims, who were students at George L. Catrambone School in Long Branch, claim in court papers they were violated by Gustavo Barrientos, 58, who was taught third and fourth grade at the school.
The lawsuits allege the girls ranged in age from 9 to 13 when Barrientos rubbed their shoulders or backsides, inappropriately hugged and kissed them and sexually assaulted some of them.
The crimes occurred from 2017 through 2020 in Barrientos’ classroom and while he tutored one of the children in reading after school, according to court documents.
In one case, Barrientos showed a child pornographic images, kissed her mouth, placed his hand on her inner thigh and allegedly sexually assaulted her.
Barrientos offered to show the student how to kiss, saying, “Who better to teach you than a teacher?” according to a lawsuit.
Barrientos, formerly of Tinton Falls, was arrested on Feb. 14, 2021, and charged with first-degree aggravated sexual assault and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child. He was later charged with multiple counts of sexual assault and endangering.
On June 11, 2024, a jury found Barrientos guilty of four counts of endangering/sexual conduct with a child by a caretaker.
Barrientos was sentenced to 17 years in prison and is incarcerated at South Woods State Prison in Cumberland County.
He’s eligible for parole on Nov. 5, 2029, and will have to register as a sex offender for life, according to court documents and the New Jersey Department of Corrections.
In December 2025, a Monmouth County judge approved four settlements against the Long Branch Board of Education totaling more than $3.7 million with no admission of liability by the district.
The settlements were obtained recently through an Open Public Records Request and published by TransparencyNJ.com.
The largest award, $2.75 million, was granted to a former student who alleged she was repeatedly abused between 2017 and 2018.
According to the complaint, Barrientos had access to her as a homeroom and math teacher and as an after-school tutor, and the alleged conduct occurred on school grounds, including in classrooms.
The lawsuit described a pattern of escalating abuse, including inappropriate touching, exposure to pornographic material, and other sexual acts.
Three additional cases each resulted in $325,000 settlements. In those complaints, former students alleged incidents between 2017 and 2020 involving inappropriate touching, hugging, and kissing.
The settlements were approved in December 2025 through “friendly hearings,” a process required for cases involving minors.
Court orders directed portions of each award to attorney fees and costs, with remaining funds placed under court supervision for the children’s benefit.
Across all four cases, the plaintiffs’ net recovery totaled about $2.78 million, with roughly $940,000 allocated to legal fees and expenses.
District officials did not respond to a call and email seeking comment on the case.