An Edison man who taught music at an Elizabeth school received a five-year prison term for dozens of child porn files
NEW BRUNSWICK -- A former Elizabeth public school music teacher now must serve five years in prison after he was caught sharing dozens of child pornography computer files, authorities said Monday.
Superior Court Judge Michael Toto imposed the sentence on Ronald Scott, 63, of Edison, who had previously pleaded guilty to a second-degree charge of distribution of child pornography, said acting Attorney General Robert Lougy.
Scott was arrested on Jan. 24, 2014 by members of the State Police Digital Technology Investigations Unit and the New Jersey Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.
A detective in the technology investigations unit identified a computer address that was offering multiple files of child pornography for any user to download using file-sharing software, authorities said.
They said the detective successfully downloaded three videos of child pornography, including videos of an adult male raping a prepubescent girl and an adult woman performing oral sex on a prepubescent boy.
State police traced the computer address to Scott's residence in Edison, where he was arrested, and investigators seized two desktop computers, two external hard drives and multiple computer discs, Lougy said.
He said the equipment was examined at the Regional Computer Forensic Laboratory in Hamilton where authorities found 64 videos of child pornography on the computers and hard drives.
"This teacher participated in the sexual exploitation of children by linking himself to the network of offenders who view and distribute child pornography," Lougy said. "In addition to sending Scott to prison, we have ensured that he will never teach again."
Elizabeth schools quickly suspended Scott after his arrest. He was later dismissed from his job, authorities said.
Authorities urged anyone with information about the distribution of child pornography on the Internet - or about suspected persons communicating with children via the Internet or possible exploitation or sexual abuse of children - to contact the New Jersey Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force tip line at 888-648-6007.
Tom Haydon may be reached at thaydon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Tom_HaydonSL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.