HACKENSACK—The Township of Washington Police Department, which participates in the Bergen County Cyber Crimes Task Force, was one agency Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella thanked May 5 in announcing the arrest of a Bergen County juvenile on distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material charges.
The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Jason Love.
On Thursday, May 4, members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit executed a search warrant at the residence of the Juvenile during an Internet child pornography investigation. The investigation revealed that the Juvenile used the Internet to view, save, download, possess, and distribute digital files depicting nude and/or sexually explicit prepubescent and pubescent children.
The juvenile was taken into protective custody and charged on May 4 with second-degree distribution of child pornography, N.J.S.A 2C:24-4(b)5(a)i; and third- degree possession of child pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4(b)5(b)iii.
The juvenile was released into the custody of a guardian and is scheduled for a first appearance in the Chancery Division, Family Court in Hackensack.
Musella noted that the charges are merely an accusation and that the juvenile is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Musella thanked the local police department for its assistance, the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office, as well as the Lyndhurst, Englewood, Washington Township, and Saddle Brook Police Departments.