Trenton
- Division of Criminal Justice Director
Vaughn L. McKoy announced that the Computer
Analysis & Technology Unit has obtained
a State Grand Jury indictment which charges
a 27 year-old Maryland man with attempting
to engage a 14 year-old juvenile in a
sexual encounter and with transmitting
child pornographic images via the Internet.
The 14 year-old juvenile was, in reality,
an undercover State Investigator assigned
to the Division of Criminal Justice State
- Computer Analysis & Technology Unit.
According to Director McKoy, Walter Edward
Whetzer, 27, Cumberland, MD, was charged
in a four-count State Grand Jury indictment
with endangering the welfare of a child
- distribution of child pornography and
three counts of attempted endangering
the welfare of a child. Whetzer faces
more than 20 years in state prison and
fines exceeding $325,000 upon conviction.
Whetzer was arrested by State Investigators
assigned to the Division of Criminal Justice
- Computer Analysis and Technology Unit
and Maryland State Police on July 12,
2004 at his Cumberland residence. At the
time of Whetzer’s arrest, a home
computer was confiscated by the Division
of Criminal Justice. A forensic review
of the computer uncovered more than 200
images of child pornography.
The indictment alleges that from April
7 through July 12, 2004, an undercover
State Investigator, posing as a 14 year-old
male, conducted an online investigation
of an Internet chat room known to be frequented
by potential pedophiles and devoted to
sexually explicit conversations. It is
alleged that Whetzer, using the screen
name “fasteddie2321502,” contacted
the undercover State Investigator and
engaged the purported juvenile in sexually
explicit conversations.
In addition to engaging the undercover
State Investigator in sexually explicit
conversations, it is alleged that Whetzer
sent sexually explicit photographs of
children engaged in sexual acts to the
undercover State Investigator. It is also
charged that Whetzer offered to pay to
obtain stained underwear, encouraged the
juvenile to be photographed in the nude,
and suggested that lewd acts be performed
live over the Internet via a Web Camera.
State investigators are continuing to
investigate if Whetzer may have attempted
to contact and/or solicit sexual encounters
with other juveniles. The Division of
Criminal Justice - Computer Analysis &
Technology Unit is seeking additional
information related to Whetzer’s
potential on-line communications.
The indictment was handed-up to Mercer
County Superior Court Judge Maria Mariani
Sypek on Oct. 13. Whetzer will be ordered
to appear in Mercer County Superior Court
for arraignment and bail.
The investigation was coordinated by State
Investigator Rosario Zito assigned to
the Division of Criminal Justice - Computer
Analysis & Technology Unit. Additional
investigative assistance was provided
by the Maryland State Police. Deputy Attorney
General Mark Murtha present the case to
the State Grand Jury.
Criminal Justice Director McKoy noted
that the Division of Criminal Justice
- Computer Analysis & Technology Unit
employs a team of specially-trained state
investigators who go on-line to track,
investigate, arrest, and prosecute individuals
who use technology and computer systems
to commit criminal acts in New Jersey.
As part of their continuing investigative
responsibilities, undercover state investigators
patrol various chat rooms where potential
sexual predators seek to engage juveniles
in conversation with the goal of ultimately
luring a targeted juvenile into a sexual
encounter.
Director McKoy noted that the Computer
Analysis & Technology Unit encourages
parents to carefully monitor on-line conversations
and to question children about any improper
E-Mails, instant messages, or other communications
received via the Internet. Children should
never provide personal information such
as name, address, phone number and school
information to unknown individuals while
communicating on-line.
If you suspect improper or suspicious
contact by unknown persons communicating
with children via the Internet, contact
the Division of Criminal Justice - Computer
Analysis & Technology Unit “Tip
Line” at 1-800-396-2310
or log-on to the Division of
Criminal Justice Web Page at www.njdcj.org.