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TRENTON
– Former New Jersey Assemblyman Neil
M. Cohen was indicted today on official
misconduct and child pornography charges
for allegedly using computer equipment in
the 20th Legislative District office to
view child pornography and print copies
of child pornography that he left around
the office, Attorney General Anne Milgram
and Criminal Justice Director Deborah L.
Gramiccioni announced.
The
Division of Criminal Justice obtained a
state grand jury indictment charging Cohen,
57, of Paramus, with the second-degree crimes
of official misconduct, reproduction of
child pornography, and distribution of child
pornography, as well as the fourth-degree
crime of possession of child pornography.
Second-degree
crimes carry a maximum sentence of 10 years
in state prison and a $150,000 fine, while
fourth-degree crimes carry a sentence of
up to 18 months in prison and a $10,000
fine. The official misconduct charge carries
a mandatory minimum sentence of five years
in prison without possibility of parole.
“We
charge that Mr. Cohen used the computer
equipment in his taxpayer-funded legislative
office to view child pornography, printing
out copies which were accessible to others
in the office,” said Attorney General
Milgram. “In doing so, he abused his
office and, like all who seek out child
pornography, he supported the suppliers
who exploit and sexually abuse children.
We are committed to vigorously enforcing
our child pornography laws as part of our
broader efforts to combat predatory behavior
against children.”
The
indictment alleges that Cohen used one or
more computers in the 20th Legislative District
office in Union Township to view child pornography
consisting of photographs of underage girls
engaged in sexual acts or simulated sexual
acts, or depicted in the nude for the purpose
of sexual gratification of viewers. It is
further alleged that Cohen used a printer
in the office to reproduce copies of the
child pornography, which he left around
the office where anyone in the office could
find and view them.
In
July, the New Jersey State Police were notified
of child pornography found in the 20th Legislative
District office. The State Police and the
Division of Criminal Justice immediately
commenced an investigation.
Detectives
from the State Police and Division of Criminal
Justice executed a search warrant to seize
the hard drives from the computers in the
legislative office. A review of the hard
drives yielded multiple images of child
pornography. The investigation revealed
that Cohen was the individual who was viewing
and printing the child pornography.
“The
New Jersey State Police and the Division
of Criminal Justice have worked together
to arrest and prosecute more than 100 defendants
during the past two years for possessing,
reproducing or distributing child pornography,”
said Director Gramiccioni. “While
we take each of these cases very seriously,
it is particularly disturbing when a government
official uses public resources to commit
such a crime.”
The
indictment was handed up to Superior Court
Judge Linda R. Feinberg in Mercer County,
who assigned the case to Mercer County,
where Cohen will be ordered to appear in
court at a later date to answer the charges.
The
indictment is merely an accusation and the
defendant is presumed innocent until proven
guilty. A copy of the indictment is available
with this press release at www.njpublicsafety.com.
Cohen
served more than 16 years in the New Jersey
Assembly. He resigned from the Assembly
on July 28 after the investigation became
public.
The
investigation was conducted for the Division
of Criminal Justice by Sgt. David Salzmann,
Detective Michael Behar, Sgt. Warren Monroe,
Detective Harry Maronpot, Deputy Attorney
General Anthony A. Picione and Deputy Attorney
General Robert Rowbotham II in the Corruption
Bureau, and Deputy Attorney General Kenneth
Sharpe in the Computer Analysis and Technology
Unit. Picione and Rowbotham presented the
case to the state grand jury.
The
investigation was conducted for the State
Police by Detective Sgt. 1st Class Bryant
Hoar, Detective Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Celli
III, Detective Sgt. Karl Ulbrich, Detective
Deniele DeBoer and Detective Anthony Carugno
of the Official Corruption Unit; Sgt. Charles
Allen, Detective Gregory Godish and Lt.
Keith Halton of the Digital Technology Investigations
Unit; and Detective Denman Powers of the
Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory.
Attorney
General Milgram noted that the Division
of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau has
established a toll-free Corruption Tipline
for the public to report corruption, financial
crime and other illegal activities. The
statewide Corruption Tipline is 1-866-TIPS-4CJ.
Additionally, the public can log on to the
Division of Criminal Justice Web site at
www.njdcj.org
to report suspected wrongdoing. All information
received through the Division of Criminal
Justice Corruption Tipline or Web page will
remain confidential.
If
you suspect that someone is using or distributing
child pornography on the Internet or suspect
improper 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 report it at
www.njdcj.org.
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