FREEHOLD – A four-month long investigation has led to the arrest of an Ocean Township man after police found him possessing child sexual abuse material.
The investigation, performed by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Computer Crimes Unit and its Monmouth County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, started after they received a tip by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) from an online service company, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey said.
Investigation revealed that Christopher Lauria, 22, of Ocean Township, was using a digital storage program and social media to access images and videos of child sexual abuse, police said.
On July 16, Lauria was arrested and charged with third degree Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material. He is currently being held in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution pending a first appearance.
If convicted of Possession of Child Sexual Exploitation Material, Lauria faces a sentence of three to five years in prison and Parole Supervision for Life.
Assisting in the investigation were the New Jersey State Police K-9 Unit’s electronics dog along with members of the Ocean Township Police Department, Monmouth County ICAC Task Force from Bradley Beach, Keyport, Tinton Falls Police Department and New Jersey Homeland Security.
Charges are merely accusations until proven in a court of law.
