Former Warren County, New Jersey, Man Convicted Of Receiving And Possessing Images Of Child Sexual Abuse

NEWARK, N.J. – A former Warren County, New Jersey, man has been convicted of receiving and possessing images of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today.

Derrick Baer, 36, formerly of Pohatcong, New Jersey, was convicted April 9, 2019, of one count of receiving child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography following a six-day trial before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi in Newark federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial:

In May 2010, in connection with an investigation into a suspicious death at Baer’s residence, law enforcement obtained Baer’s consent to seize computer equipment from the residence. That equipment contained at least 348 images and 33 video files of child sexual abuse.

The receipt of child pornography count is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison, a minimum penalty of five years in prison, and a fine of $250,000. The possession count is punishable by a maximum potential sentence of 10 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for July 23, 2019.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark; the Pohatcong Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief Scott Robb; the N.J. Regional Computer Forensics Lab; and the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Richard T. Burke, with the investigation leading to the conviction.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David W. Feder and Lyndsay Ruotolo of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.

Defense counsel: Michael N. Pedicini Esq., Chatham, New Jersey