Somerset County man charged with child sexual abuse material and endangering the welfare of a child
HILLSBOROUGH TOWNSHIP, NJ (Somerset County) – A Somerset County man has been charged in relation to possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material, providing obscene materials to a minor and endangering the welfare of a child in Hillsborough Township, according to Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald.
Prosecutor McDonald stated that the New Jersey State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force notified the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office of a Cyber Tipline Report provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children concerning the possession and distribution of files depicting the sexual abuse and/or exploitation of a minor via a social media platform.
Upon receiving this Cyber Tipline Report, an investigation was initiated by the detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations/Computer Crimes Unit. The investigation led to the identification of Adam Rose, 33, of Hillsborough Township as the suspect who allegedly possessed and distributed files depicting the sexual abuse and/or exploitation of a minor via a social media platform, McDonald said.
On Wednesday, January 8, detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, along with members of the Hillsborough Township Police Department, executed a Superior Court search warrant at Rose’s residence. As a result of the search warrant, electronic devices were seized from the residence for further forensic analysis. Rose was taken into custody and transported to the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, McDonald said.
Rose was charged with second-degree, distribution of child Sexual abuse materials and third-degree possession of child sexual abuse materials. He was lodged at the Somerset County Jail and was later released from custody after making an appearance in Superior Court.
Prosecutor McDonald stated that detectives conducted further investigation into the examination of Rose’s electronic devices seized from his residence on January 8. As a result of this investigation, he was found to be communicating via a social media platform with two separate juvenile victims, a 14-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy. Law enforcement officers interviewed both juvenile victims and confirmed that Rose allegedly engaged in sexually explicit conversations with both victims, McDonald said.
On Thursday, January 16, Rose was arrested by members of the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations/Computer Crimes Unit in Readington, New Jersey without incident. He was charged with two counts of third-degree providing obscene material to a minor, two counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child and third-degree possession of child sexual abuse materials. He was transported to the Somerset County Jail, and he remains lodged pending a court hearing, McDonald said.
Anyone with information relating to this investigation to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations/Computer Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100 or the Hillsborough Township Police Department at 908-369-4323 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports, and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.
