HAMILTON (Mercer)  — Child predators are everywhere in New Jersey, according to an unprecedented amount of criminal charges announced Friday by state officials.

Among the 79 men — from Cape May to Sussex — that were charged on child luring or child pornography charges were a police officer from South Brunswick, an Air Force captain accused of molesting a 14-year-old girl, a camp counselor from Bayonne accused of molesting a girl, a youth minister from Hopatcong accused of sexting with a girl, and a postal worker from Cranford accused of possessing child pornography.

A 48-year-old Millington man was charged with having tens of thousands of files of child pornography — and investigators suspect he could have more than a million files after they're done counting.

A Mercer County mechanic was charged with having more than 10,000 files of child pornography and and three brothers in Cumberland County allegedly had nearly 5,000 files of child pornography.

Attorney General Christopher Porrino said the arrests included 10 “hands-on” offenders, including child predators who allegedly tried to have children transported so they could rape them.

The arrests this year follow last year's statewide child porn bust that netted 40 arrests, with at least one arrest in each of the state's 21 counties. 

The latest investigation was led by the State Police Regional Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and reached beyond New Jersey's borders and included help from 11 agencies including the FBI, Homeland Security and law enforcement in California, Indiana and Washington DC. More than two dozen New Jersey agencies were also involved along withe every prosecutor's office.

The arrests were the result of the work of a new mobile cyber forensics laboratory and Mega, the electronics sniffing dog.

“The men we arrested lurked in the shadows of the internet and social media, looking for opportunities to sexually assault young children or to view such unspeakable assaults by sharing child pornography,” Attorney General Porrino said in the announcement at the State Police Hamilton Tech Center.

“We set up a wide safety net in this operation to snare these alleged predators and to protect children, which remains our highest priority. With our new mobile forensics lab and electronics-sniffing dog, we’re even better equipped to uncover the evidence that will keep these offenders behind bars, where they cannot threaten or further exploit vulnerable victims.”

Acting State Police Superintendent Col. Patrick Callahan said the arrests are a big step towards keeping New Jersey children safe.

"These arrests should put anyone looking to engage in this behavior on notice that law enforcement will be relentless in our efforts to put them behind bars," he said.

Those arrested for interstate transportation of children:

  • George Castillo, 36, of Inglewood, California, faces federal charges of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and production of child pornography, as well as New Jersey charges including first-degree conspiracy to commit child trafficking. Castillo allegedly solicited an undercover New Jersey State Police detective – who pretended to be trafficking children – to fly a 4-year-old girl to Los Angeles so he could sexually assault her. He also allegedly solicited an undercover police detective in Washington, D.C., who posed as a father, to bring his “daughter,” 9, to Los Angeles for sex at the same time the undercover from New Jersey was expected to arrive with the other girl. He was arrested on April 4 at Los Angeles International Airport when he arrived to meet the girls and their adult escorts.
  • Joseph Donohew, 26, of Brownsburg, Indiana, is charged in Indiana with attempted child molestation. He allegedly offered money to an undercover New Jersey State Police detective, whom he met on an instant messaging platform, to have sex with a 9-year-old girl. The undercover represented that he had a daughter, 9, and Donohew allegedly sent him $100 as a down payment to bring the girl to Indiana for sex. Donohew was arrested on July 13 at a gas station in Indiana, where he allegedly was to meet the father and girl. He had purchased a nightgown for the girl depicting characters from a Disney movie he believed was her favorite.

Eight other defendants were arrested on charges related to various types of alleged “hands-on” conduct, including sexual assault, luring a child, conveying obscene materials to a child, and manufacturing child pornography.

  • William Esker, 22, of Bayonne, was charged on Sept. 7 by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office with aggravated criminal sexual contact for allegedly engaging in sexual conduct with a girl, 14, over whom he had direct supervision as a camp counselor. He also is charged with providing obscene material to a child and endangering the welfare of a child.
  • Donald Beckwith, 34, of Browns Mills,  is charged in Delaware with sexual solicitation of a minor and attempt to commit unlawful sexual contact with a minor. Beckwith, a captain in the Air Force stationed in New Jersey, met a girl, 14, through an online chat group for children and allegedly engaged her in sexual conversations, ultimately asking her to meet him in person. He allegedly met the girl twice in Delaware. The first time, he allegedly reached under her shirt and tried to touch her breast, and the second time he allegedly hugged her and repeatedly asked her to lie on a bed in the back of his vehicle and watch a movie with him. The New Jersey State Police arrested Beckwith on Aug. 16 in an investigation initiated by the Delaware State Police. Detectives allegedly found over 10 nude images of an underage girl on his phone.
  • Michael DeBlock, 22, of Hopatcong, a youth minister, was arrested on Oct. 10 and charged by the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office with possession of child pornography and conveying obscene materials to a child. DeBlock allegedly exchanged sexual photos and texts with a girl, 14, including a photo of his penis.
  • Brandon Morris, 24, of Hammonton, was arrested on Oct. 17 and charged by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office with manufacturing child pornography, endangering the welfare of a child by sexual conduct, conveying obscene materials to a child, and possession of child pornography. Morris allegedly engaged multiple underage girls in conversations on FaceTime, instructing them to perform sexual acts on themselves, which he recorded.
  • A 17-year-old student from Bergen County, whose name is not being released due to his juvenile status, was arrested on Aug. 17 and charged by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office with manufacturing, distributing and possessing child pornography, as well as invasion of privacy. The juvenile allegedly had over 1,000 files of suspected child pornography on his electronic devices, including video recordings he allegedly made by hiding his smartphone in a private bathroom in order to record underage boys who were nude, showering or urinating.
  • Craig Kirschner, 39, of Marlboro, was arrested on Aug. 21 and charged by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office with luring a child, attempted sexual assault of a minor, and conveying obscene material to a minor. Kirschner allegedly solicited an undercover detective, whom he believed to be a 15-year-old male, to meet for oral sex. The detective was monitoring a mobile app when he encountered Kirschner. After the undercover detective identified himself as a 15-year-old boy, Kirschner allegedly sent him photos of an erect penis, asked him to meet for oral sex, and stated “I can be generous for your trouble.”
  • Isaac Toney, 40, of Trenton, was arrested on July 17 by the New Jersey State Police and charged with luring a child. He allegedly used a mobile app to solicit an undercover detective, whom he believed was a 14-year-old male, for oral sex. He was arrested at Veterans Park in Hamilton, Mercer County, where he allegedly was to meet the “boy” for a sexual encounter.
  • Robert Elmi, 63, of Gillette, was arrested by the New Jersey State Police on Nov. 9 on a charge of luring a child. Elmi had placed an ad on Craigslist soliciting a relationship with a younger female. An undercover State Police detective responded, posing as a young girl and indicating to Elmi that she was 13. Elmi allegedly communicated with the “13-year-old” for several weeks by text and email, ultimately arranging to meet her at a diner. He allegedly told the “girl” he would take her back to his apartment, where they would drink, watch TV, kiss and perform oral sex on each other. Elmi was arrested by the State Police at the diner.

11 people were arrested who would be considered "super possessors" as part of a law that goes into effect in 2018.

  • William Camargo, 48, of Millington,  an IT professional , allegedly had more than 138,000 files of suspected child pornography, and possibly more than one million files (determination awaiting full forensic examinations of computer equipment);
  • Callen Kapschock, 55, of Hamilton in Mercer County a mechanic, allegedly had more than 10,000 files of suspected child pornography;
  • Md F. Uddin, 43, of Elizabeth, an engineer, allegedly had more than 5,000 files of suspected child pornography;
  • Kody Knotts, 22, of Millville, along with his two brothers immediately below, allegedly had a combined total of nearly 5,000 files of suspected child pornography;
  • Alexander Knotts, 27, of Millville
  • Kyle Knotts, 23, of Millville
  • Laurence Duque, 42, of Dayton, allegedly had over 4,000 files of suspected child pornography;
  • Gregory Piszczek, 35, of Woodbridge, an IT professional, allegedly had over 4,000 files of suspected child pornography;
  • Kevin Groeger, 63, of Cranford,  a postal worker, allegedly had over 2,000 files of suspected child pornography;
  • Pasquale “Charles” Albano, 75, of Point Pleasant, allegedly had over 1,000 files of suspected child pornography; and
  • Juvenile Male, 17, referenced above, allegedly had over 1,000 files of suspected child pornography.

The following 58 additional men were arrested on charges of possession and/or distribution of child pornography:

  • Paul Marinelli, 52, of South Brunswick, a Trenton police officer, charged with possession of child pornography.
  • James Cutrone, 54, of Hazlet, a youth swim coach, charged with distribution of child pornography.
  • Bryan San Andreas, 37, of Toms River, a piano teacher, charged with possession of child pornography.
  • John Parsons, 50, of Vineland, charged with possession of child pornography.
  • Donald Williams, 39, of Camden, charged with distribution of child pornography.
  • Kevin Wenng, 35, of Cliffwood Beach, charged with possession of child pornography.
  • Victor Kurynow, 58, of Bedminster,  charged with attempted possession of child pornography and conveying obscene materials to a minor.
  • Paul Fuhs, 44, of Laurel Springs, charged with possession of child pornography.
  • Ryan Stemetzki, 26, of Maple Shade, charged with possession and distribution of child pornography.
  • Robert Ruff, 56, of Delran, charged with possession of child pornography.
  • Robert King, 63, of North Wildwood, charged with possession and distribution of child pornography.
  • Jason Locke, 42, of Manchester, charged with possession of child pornography.
  • Stephen Slawinski, 60, of Morris Plains, charged with possession and distribution of child pornography.
  • Herbert Ferreira, 43, of Dover, charged with possession and distribution of child pornography.
  • Joseph Maruca, 26, of Berkeley, charged with possession of child pornography.
  • James Gilbertson, 60, of Manchester, charged with possession of child pornography.
  • Christopher Todd, 49, of Lyndhurst, charged with possession and distribution of child pornography.
  • Alexis Gonzalez, 28, of Hackensack, charged with possession of child pornography.
  • Raul Rodriguez, 33, of Jersey City,  charged with possession of child pornography.
  • Dhanendhran Govender, 32, of East Windsor, charged with possession and distribution of child pornography.
  • Luis Pacheco-Loja, 30, of Belleville, charged with possession and distribution of child pornography.
  • Robert White, 66, of Morristown, charged with possession and distribution of child pornography.
  • Jonathan Latiff 40, of Jersey City,  charged with possession and distribution of child pornography.
  • Anthony Gerace, 43, of Egg Harbor Township, charged with distribution of child pornography.
  • Antonio Baang, 26, of Galloway Township, charged with possession of child pornography.
  • Richard Lake, 65, of Trenton, charged with possession and distribution of child pornography.
  • Federico Flores, 29, of Rahway, charged with possession and distribution of child pornography.
  • James Agin, 69, of Westwood, charged with possession and distribution of child pornography.
  • Fortino Rosales-Rodriguez, 22, of Oaklyn,  charged with possession of child pornography.
  • Justin Saavedra, 22, of Clifton, charged with distribution of child pornography.
  • Daniel Braz, 39, of South River, charged with possession and distribution of child pornography.
  • Nelson Cintron, Jr., 54, of Collingswood, charged with possession and distribution of child pornography.
  • Michael Brown, 28, of Pennsauken, charged with possession and distribution of child pornography.
  • Erik Baez, 38, of Sicklerville, charged with possession and distribution of child pornography.
  • Larry Gonzalez, 45, of Elizabeth, charged with possession and distribution of child pornography.
  • Erik Johnson, 49, charged by Union County Prosecutor’s Office with possession and distribution of child pornography.
  • Marco Biason, 68, of Dover, charged with possession of child pornography.
  • Brian Neilson, 55, of Metuchen, charged with possession of child pornography.
  • Thomas Smith, 54, of Woodstown, charged with possession and distribution of child pornography.
  • Zachary Brawer, 31, of Paramus,  charged with possession and distribution of child pornography.
  • Brian J. Gardner, 74, of Nutley, charged with possession and distribution of child pornography.
  • John T. Ruffner, 37, of Lumberton, charged with possession of child pornography.
  • John Skubiak, 62, of Deptford,  charged with possession and distribution of child pornography.
  • Nicholas J. Novak, 66, of Ocean Township in Monmouth County, charged with possession and distribution of child pornography.
  • Eric MacAfee, 41, of Seaside Heights, charged with possession of child pornography.
  • Jeison Padilla, 29, of Somerville, charged with possession of child pornography and conveying obscene materials to a minor.
  • Justin England, 31, of North Plainfield, charged with possession and distribution of child pornography.
  • Eric Yourish, 61, of North Plainfield,  charged with possession of child pornography.
  • Christopher Dunham, 22, of Rockaway, charged with possession and distribution of child pornography.
  • Justin Piccola, 23, of Randolph, charged with possession and distribution of child pornography.
  • Nicolas Bencze, 36, of Maywood, charged with possession and distribution of child pornography.
  • Michael Yosco, 70, of Garfield,  charged with possession of child pornography.
  • Male Juvenile, age 14, of Bergen County, charged with possession of child pornography.
  • Julio Garcia, 29, of Bridgeton, charged with possession and distribution of child pornography.
  • Joseph Lawitz, 34, of Hamilton in Mercer County, charged with possession of child pornography.
  • James Livas, 22, of Hopatcong, charged with possession and distribution of child pornography.
  • Robert Fuscarino, 27, of Hopatcong, charged with possession and distribution of child pornography.
  • Donovan Roots, 19, of Pilesgrove, charged with possession and distribution of child pornography.

David Matthau contributed to this report

More From WPG Talk Radio 95.5 FM