Woman, 69, charged with possession, distribution of child sexual abuse material in Somerset County
BRANCHBURG TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Somerset County) — A Branchburg woman has been charged with possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material following an investigation by the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations/Computer Crimes Unit.
Prosecutor John P. McDonald said the case began after the New Jersey State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received a Cyber Tipline Report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The report alleged that files depicting the sexual abuse or exploitation of a minor had been shared through an internet service platform.
Investigators identified Kathleen Amberg, 69, as the suspect. On Aug. 13, detectives from the prosecutor’s office, along with Branchburg police, executed a search warrant at her residence. Authorities seized electronic devices for forensic analysis and took Amberg into custody.
She was charged with second-degree distribution of child sexual abuse materials and third-degree possession of child sexual abuse materials. Amberg was lodged in the Somerset County Jail and later released after making an initial court appearance.
Authorities are asking anyone with information about the case to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations/Computer Crimes Unit at (908) 231-7100, the Branchburg Police Department at (908) 526-3830, or via the anonymous STOPit app. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477).
