TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON – The Township of Washington Police Department announced the arrest of Benjamin P. Ritter on Dec. 5, 2024, on multiple weapons charges after officers seized illegal firearms and high-capacity magazines from his residence.
The arrest followed a court-authorized search and seizure warrant issued by the Bergen County Superior Court. During the search, police recovered:
- A Smith & Wesson AR-10 with folding stock and pistol grip
- A Smith & Wesson AR-15 with folding stock and pistol grip
- Eighteen (18) 30-round high-capacity magazines
- Six (6) 20-round high-capacity magazines
- One (1) 25-round high-capacity magazine
- Five (5) 17-round high-capacity magazines
Ritter has been charged with the following offenses:
- Unlawful possession of weapons, assault firearms (2 counts) – N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5F
- Prohibited weapons and devices, high-capacity magazines (1 count) – N.J.S.A. 2C:39-3J
Ritter is being held at the Bergen County Jail pending further court action.
Charges over possession of child sex-abuse material
On Nov. 25, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of a Benjamin P. Ritter, 23, of Washington Township on charges related to the possession of child sexual abuse material. This arrest followed 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, Nov. 25, 2024, in Paramus. He was 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 reminded the public that charges are merely an accusation, and defendants are 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.