U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman, of the U.S. Attorney General’s Office, recently announced an indictment against a man from Newark, New Jersey in a case involving the possession and distribution of child pornography.
58-year-old Newark resident Pedro Rios is now facing federal charges for possession of child pornography as well as distribution of child pornography. These charges come in addition to those he was already facing in New Jersey for endangering the welfare of a child, in connection with a case involving Rios allegedly filming himself engaging in sexual intercourse with a young girl.
Interestingly, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed a bill into law on August 14, 2013 regarding N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4, which governs endangering the welfare of a child offenses in New Jersey. Specifically, the law expands the scope of criminal possession or viewing of child pornography as well as distribution of child pornography, with a particular focus on transmission via the Internet.
In addition, the law upgrades offenses and respective penalties associated with child endangerment related to child pornography and adds under “Megan’s Law,” the availability of parole supervision for life for a person convicted of possessing, reproducing, or distributing child pornography.
According to the amended version of N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4:
A person commits a crime of the second degree if he causes or permits a child to engage in a prohibited sexual act or in the simulation of such an act if the person knows, has reason to know or intends that the prohibited act may be photographed, filmed, reproduced, or reconstructed in any manner, including on the Internet, or may be part of an exhibition or performance.
To access the law in its entirety, click the following link: S-2493: P.L. 2013, c.136
For more information regarding this case, access the following article: Newark man, accused of exploiting young girl, now faces child porn charges
