A Monmouth County man has been arrested on charges in connection with his possession of child sexual assault images, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced on Tuesday. 

Ernst Roberts, 62, of Oak Terrace, Neptune City, was charged with one count of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child for distribution of child pornography. 

The case background …

The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children’s Task Force received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

The CyberTip stated that on Oct. 27, 2018, an individual conducted an internet search for child pornography. A subsequent investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and ICAC Task Force member Spring Lake Police Detective Sgt. Christopher Kucinski revealed that the individual conducting the internet search was Roberts.

A subsequent search of Roberts’s computer uncovered hundreds of items of child pornography. Roberts turned himself in to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office on May 17. 

On May 18, Roberts had his initial court appearance and was released on conditions including no internet usage and no contact with anyone under the age of 18.

If convicted of the third-degree crime, Roberts faces a sentence of up to five years in New Jersey state prison.  

— Edited press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office