WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (Warren County) – A Hudson County man is accused of paying a teen for sexually explicit photos and videos, according to the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office.
The investigation began after the Washington Township Police Department received a report that a 15-year-old was receiving payments in exchange for sexually explicit pictures, authorities said.
Detectives spoke with the girl who indicated that she sent nearly 100 photographs and videos to an individual identifying himself as “Jay” on Snapchat, the prosecutor’s office said.
She also explained that she informed the suspect that she was 15-years-old but he still forwarded her payments totaling $240. Through various investigative means, police were able to identify “Jay” as Julian Suarez, 21, from Secaucus, authorities said.
Detectives were able to view the contents of the Snapchat account and corroborate the girl’s report, the prosecutor’s office said.
Suarez was charged with third-degree endangering the welfare of a child for engaging in sexual conduct that would impair or debauch the morals of a child, and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child for knowingly possessing images that depict child sexual abuse or exploitation.
The third-degree crimes carry a maximum penalty of up to five years in New Jersey State Prison.
