Man Arrested for Maintaining Peer-to-Peer Child Pornography Network
Published on June 23, 2023
Morris County First Assistant Prosecutor Maggie Calderwood, Morris County Chief of Detectives Robert McNally, and Washington Township Police Chief Jeffrey Almer announce the arrest of John Green, age 65, of Washington Township, in connection with maintaining a peer-to-peer child abuse network, and possession of child sex abuse material.
The defendant has been charged with one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Maintaining a Peer-to-Peer File Sharing Program of Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM)), a first degree offense in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4B(5)(a)(iii), and one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Possession of CSAM), a second degree offense in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4B(5)(b)(ii).
The investigation began when the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit identified possible CSAM on a BitTorrent site in Morris County. BitTorrent is a Peer-to-Peer file sharing network. The Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office referred this information to the Morris County Prosecutor’s ICAC Task Force of the Sex Crimes / Child Endangerment Unit.
Further investigation revealed numerous media files, each depicting the alleged sexual exploitation or abuse of a minor, stored on the BitTorrent site. The investigation further revealed that these were accessible for download. It is alleged the BitTorrent was associated with the defendant’s residence, where he lives alone. A search of defendant’s electronic devices revealed additional items of suspected CSAM on his computer. An initial review revealed in excess of 1,000 items of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).
Defendant was arrested on the above charges on June 2, 2023. Following his arrest, on June 19, he was detained in the Morris County Correctional Facility, pursuant to the Criminal Justice Reform Act.
First Assistant Prosecutor Calderwood would like to acknowledge the Hunterdon and Warren County Prosecutor’s Offices, the New Jersey State Police, Washington Township Police Department, and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force for their efforts in this investigation.
If anyone has any information related to this investigation, they are encouraged to call the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force of the Sex Crimes / Child Endangerment Unit of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office at 973-285-6200.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite these accusations, the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Media inquiries concerning this press release should be directed to Public Information Officer Meghan Knab at [email protected].