52-Year-Old Toms River Man First Charged In August 2023 With Child Pornography Faces Two New Charges
Monday, April 22, 2024, 4:15 P.M. ET. By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
TOMS RIVER, NJ.- A 52-year-old Toms River, New Jersey man first charged in August 2023, with Possession of Child Pornography, surrendered on Sunday, April 21, 2024, to members of the Toms River Police Department and was charged with two additional child pornography offenses.
According to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, back in August 2023, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office High Tech Crime Unit received a referral from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an individual in the Ocean County area was downloading digital images depicting nude or sexually explicit children.
Detectives identified an IP Address associated with a residence in Toms River, New Jersey as the location from which the individual was downloading the images.
On August 24, 2024, Detectives of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office High Tech Crime Unit with assistance from the Toms River Police Department and the Toms River Township Police Department Emergency Services Unit executed a court-authorized search warrant at the residence of Edward Lynch, 52, of Toms River, New Jersey.
During the search, Detectives seized multiple electronic devices and detained Mr. Lynch. Following an initial examination of the electronic devices and determined that Lynch downloaded over 1000 digital images. Lynch was then taken into custody and formally charged with one count of Child Pornography. Lynch was processed on the charge and was remanded to the Ocean County Jail. After an initial court appearance, Lynch was released pending trial.
As a result of a full forensic examination of all devices seized in August 2023, Detectives uncovered that Lynch knowingly distributed more than 1000 digital images of nude and sexually explicit children using internet applications of Telegram, Session, and Wickr Me.
Accordingly, following surrendering on Sunday, April 21, 2024, Lynch was additionally charged with Distribution of Child Pornography and a second count of Possession of Child Pornography. Lynch was processed on the charges and was remanded to the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing in Ocean County Superior Court.
"The rules of the court requires us to include a statement, that states: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations and the defendant and or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt."
FILED UNDER: APRIL 22, 2024: LAW, LOCAL, OCEAN: