Crime & Safety
Morristown Worker Charged in Child Porn Probe
Mayor Tim Dougherty "deeply disturbed about these serious charges" against Public Works Department Superintendent Charles E. Jones, 50.
Morristown’s superintendent was among 28 people charged in a three-month state police child porn investigation dubbed “Operation Watchdog,” authorities said Tuesday.
Charles E. Jones, 50, was arrested on April 9 and charged with possession and distribution of child pornography, police said. He was processed and released, police said.
The 27 men and one woman used Internet file-sharing programs to download or distribute child porn, police said. Among the images and videos were those with a digital fingerprints that were tracked as they moved across file sharing networks, police said.
Find out what's happening in Morristownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
In a press release issued Tuesday afternoon, Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty said, "according to State Law Enforcement Officials Charles E. Jones was arrested and charged with Child Pornography related offenses as a result of a three month investigation by the New Jersey State Police–Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Any further inquiries or requests for additional information regarding the criminal investigation should be directed to the New Jersey State Police.
"Without jeopardizing the pending criminal investigation and the prosecution, let me be clear that I am deeply disturbed about these serious charges," the mayor wrote. "Mr. Jones, who has been an employee with the Town of Morristown since July 2001, is currently the Town’s Superintendent of Public Works. At this time, Mr. Jones is on a leave of absence. We take any allegation of misconduct very seriously and will conduct a thorough administrative review of the facts when they are made available. This is a personnel matter, which will be handled in accordance with Town policy and applicable labor laws."
Find out what's happening in Morristownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Others charged with possession and distribution of child pornography from North Jersey are:
- Joshua Kane, 31, of Wayne
- Andrew Rodriguez, 27, of Park Ridge
- Jose A. Velasquez, 20, of Clifton
- Joseph Marella, 42, of Passaic
- Scott Hersh, 43, of Mount Arlington
- David Ingoglia, 36, of Byram
- Jeremy Gardner, 18, of Livingston
“Through aggressive, technology-driven investigations such as Operation Watchdog, we must banish the misguided notion that online viewing and sharing of child pornography is a victimless crime,” Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa said. “The vulnerable children who are tortured and degraded to create these vile materials are re-victimized every time another person views the images."
One of the arrested men, Cesar Salgado-Maya, 23, of Audubon, lived in a residence connected to a day care, police said. Another, Bernard Cahill, 53, of Folsom, took pictures of himself sexually assaulting a juvenile, police said. The images were discovered on his computer, police said.
Cahill was charged with sexual assault and manufacturing child pornography.
“Those who thought they could hide their child porn crimes in the secrecy of their homes have been exposed by the relentless work of law enforcement working together," said Colonel Rick Fuentes, the state police superintendent.
More than 100 law enforcement personnel from 21 agencies took part in the investigation, executing search warrants in 26 towns last week.
During one of the raids, police found a 66-year-old Pennsauken man, William Brooks, downloading child porn as authorities stormed in, police said.
Three people, whose names were not released, are still being sought, police said.
“Let the word go out that those who share child pornography over the Internet are also sharing the evidence of their crimes with computer experts from law enforcement, who are patrolling the Internet to stop this tragic victimization of children,” said Stephen J. Taylor, director of the state Division of Criminal Justice.
The photos and images have been turned over to the FBI, police said.
The following individual was arrested on April 11, 2012 and charged with:
Sexual assault, manufacturing child pornography, and distribution and possession of child pornography:
Name
Age
Town
Bernard Cahill
43
Folsom
The following individuals were charged with distribution and possession of child pornography
Arrested on 03/01/12:
Name
Age
Town
Cesar Salgado-Maya
23
Audubon
Arrested on 04/09/12:
Name
Age
Town
Charles E Jones
50
Morristown
Ryan Taylor
27
Lindenwold
Jeremy Gardner
18
Livingston
Joshua Kane
31
Wayne
Max Mejia
46
Atlantic City
Juvenile Male
17
Moorestown
Arrested on 04/10/12:
Name
Age
Town
William J. Brooks
66
Pennsauken
Lucas Francis Walsh
24
Maple Shade
David Ingoglia
36
Byram
Scott Hersh
43
Mount Arlington
Arrested on 04/11/12:
Name
Age
Town
Brandon Sarna
20
New Brunswick
John Thomas Kondes
56
Bayonne
Andrew Rodriguez
27
Park Ridge
Arrested on 04/12/12:
Name
Age
Town
Collin Tillett
29
Hamilton (Atlantic Co.)
Armondo Flores
46
Bridgeton City
Robert Knapp
47
Old Bridge
Jose A. Velasquez
20
Clifton
Jasmyn E. Oliver
20
Union Twp.
Robert J. Rowe 2nd
33
Union Twp.
Arrested on 04/13/12:
Name
Age
Town
Joseph Marella
42
Passaic
Christopher Guzman
32
Camden
Asaf Guttman
39
Bloomfield
Jared Pacifici
27
Manalapan
Joshua Ferreri
25
West Berlin
John Mulligan
41
Ocean City
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.