HACKENSACK—Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of Benjamin P. Ritter, 23, of Washington Township on charges related to the possession of child sexual abuse material. This arrest follows an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit, under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck.
On Sept. 13, 2024, members of the Cyber Crimes Unit identified Ritter during an ongoing internet child pornography investigation. A court-authorized search of Ritter’s electronic device revealed evidence that he had allegedly viewed, saved, downloaded, and/or possessed 31,110 items depicting nude or sexually explicit images of prepubescent and pubescent children.
As a result of the investigation, Ritter was arrested on Monday, November 25, 2024, in Paramus, New Jersey. He has been charged with second-degree possession of child pornography under N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4(b)5(b)(ii). Ritter was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending his first appearance in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack.
Musella reminds the public that the charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Prosecutor’s Office thanked the Washington Township Police Department, a member of the Bergen County Cyber Crimes Task Force, for its assistance in this investigation.