Former Phillipsburg police officer sentenced for distribution of child sexual abuse material, cyber harassment
PHILLIPSBURG, NJ (Warren County) – A former Phillipsburg police officer was sentenced for distribution of child sexual abuse material and cyber harassment, according to the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office.
Gary A. Ricker, Jr, 34, of Phillipsburg pled guilty on Feb. 15 to second-degree endangering the welfare of a child for distribution of child sexual abuse material, and fourth-degree cyber harassment, authorities said.
On Jan. 31, 2022, the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office received a cyber-tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploitation Children that an individual in the Phillipsburg area had distributed child sexual abuse material through the messaging application KIK, the prosecutor’s office said.
A further investigation identified the perpetrator as Phillipsburg Police Officer Gary Ricker and a search warrant was executed on his home on Feb. 24, 2022. Ricker was found to be in possession of 39 files, both pictures and videos, containing child sexual abuse material, authorities said.
It was also revealed that Ricker distributed pornographic images of an adult victim without her consent, the prosecutor’s office said.
Ricker was sentenced on Nov. 30 to 3 years in New Jersey State Prison on the second-degree charge and 18 months state prison on the fourth-degree offense with the sentences to run current to one another. Additionally, the court required him to comply with provisions of Megan’s Law and parole supervision for life.
