40-YEAR-OLD NEW EGYPT NEW JERSEY MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO POSSESSION AND DISTRIBUTION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
" Richard Knight Of New Egypt Has Plead Guilty To Possessing & Distributing Up To 100,000 Images of Child Pornography."
November 17, 2021 By Art Fletcher Reporting For: Englebrook Independent News,
TOMS RIVER, NJ.- On Tuesday, November 16, 2021 Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on November 16, 2021, Richard Knight, 40, of New Egypt, New Jersey Pled Guilty to Distribution of Child Pornography; and Possession of Child Pornography, before The Honorable Michael T. Collins, J.S.C.
At the time of Mr. Knight's Sentencing on January 14, 2022, the State will be recommending a Sentence of Five Years in New Jersey State Prison, with a two year period of parole ineligibility as to the Distribution of Child Pornography Charge, as well as Five Years in New Jersey State Prison as to the Possession of Child Pornography Charge. The sentences are to run concurrently. Mr. Knight will also be subject to the terms of Megan's Law, along with Parole Supervision for Life.
The investigation, which began in December 2020, was the result of numerous referrals from The New Jersey State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The Task Force detected that a user of the program Google Meets was uploading Images of Child Pornography to the Internet.
A subsequent investigation by The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit identified a residence in New Egypt as the source of the uploaded images of child pornography. On June 9, 2021, Detectives from The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, United States Homeland Security Investigations, and Plumsted Township Police Department, Executed a Court Authorized Search Warrant on Mr. Knight’s residence in New Egypt.
Detectives seized two cell phones from the residence. Further investigation by The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit revealed that Mr. Knight’s cell phone contained more than 1,000 Images but less than 100,000 Images of Child Pornography. The investigation also revealed that Mr. Knight Distributed Child Pornography using Google Meets and other Social Media Platforms.
Mr. Knight was subsequently Arrested at his place of employment in Browns Mills, New Jersey on June 9, 2021, and has been lodged in The Ocean County Jail since that date.
Ocean County Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Senior Assistant Prosecutor Shanon Chant-Berry who is handling the case on behalf of The State, as well as Members of The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, Plumsted Township Police Department, New Jersey State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and United States Homeland Security Investigations, for their collective and collaborative assistance in connection with this investigation leading to Knight’s Arrest, Guilty Pleas, and subsequent State Prison Sentence.
FILED UNDER NOVEMBER 17, 2021: LAW, OCEAN: