Man accused of recording juvenile in changing room of Hunterdon County retail store facing more charges
RARITAN TOWNSHIP, NJ (Hunterdon County) – A Hunterdon County man who allegedly recording a female juvenile in a changing room of a retail store in Raritan Township earlier this year is facing new charges following a multi-state joint investigation, according to Hunterdon County Prosecutor Renée Robeson.
Ron Rothman, 49, of the Ringoes section of East Amwell Township was additionally charged on Aug. 28 with first-degree causing prohibited sexual acts and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, Robeson said.
This investigation revealed that Rothman was electronically communicating with David Collier, 46, of Moulton, Alabama. Rothman and Collier exchanged images and videos of child sexual abuse material during their communications, Robeson said.
On Aug. 28, Collier was arrested by the Moulton Police Department with the assistance of the FBI for facilitating the on-line solicitation of a child, facilitating solicitation of unlawful sexual conduct with a child, dissemination/display of child pornography, and production of pornography with minors, Robeson said.
Previously, on March 17, a juvenile female reported to the Raritan Township Police Department that an unidentified person, later determined to be Rothman, used a cellular phone to record her while she was undressing in a changing room at a retail store in Raritan Township, Robeson said.
Further investigation revealed that Rothman possessed on his cellular phone recordings of the juvenile female while she was in the changing room. Additional analysis of his phone disclosed images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of other juveniles who have not yet been identified, Robeson said.
On July 17, members of the Raritan Township Police Department and the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office — with the assistance of the Hunterdon County S.W.A.T. Team and members of the New Jersey State Police’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit and K-9 Unit — executed a search warrant of Rothman’s residence. He was located at his residence and taken into custody without incident. Investigators seized computer hard drives and other related devices and equipment, Robeson said.
Rothman was consequently charged with first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, two counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and third- and fourth-degree invasion of privacy, Robeson said.
The ongoing investigation may reveal additional charges. Rothman is currently held in the Warren County Correctional Center, Robeson said.
First-degree charges may result in criminal penalties including, but not limited to, a term of imprisonment between ten and twenty years and a fine not to exceed $200,000.00. Third-degree charges may result in criminal penalties including, but not limited to, a term of imprisonment between three and five years and a fine not to exceed $15,000.00. Fourth-degree charges may result in criminal penalties including, but not limited to, a term of imprisonment not to exceed eighteen months and a fine not to exceed $10,000.
The charges came as a result of a joint investigation between the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office, the Raritan Township Police Department, FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Moulton, Alabama Police Department.
