A n Edison man was charged Feb. 22 with allegedly producing and distributing images of child pornography, some taken in his own bedroom, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Kenneth Christensen, 44, was charged with distribution of child pornography and sexual exploitation of a child. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patty Schwartz in Newark federal court on the day of his arrest.
According to Fishman, Christensen, who works as a crossing guard at a Metuchen middle school, emailed from his computer 240 images depicting child pornography on May 14, 2012. Among them were three images of a boy who appeared to be about 5 years old.
During a search conducted Feb. 21 at Christensen’s residence, the FBI discovered on his computer the three images from the emails, as well as several hundred more images depicting child pornography, Fishman’s office reported. Since as early as 2002, Christensen allegedly produced photographs of a young boy who at the time was approximately 12 years old, engaged in sexually explicit conduct. In several of the photos allegedly discovered by law enforcement at Christensen’s residence, the boy was naked and his hands and feet were bound with handcuffs, duct tape, plastic ties or cloth ties. Most of the photos were taken in Christensen’s bedroom, authorities said.
If convicted on the distribution count, the maximum penalty would be 20 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum sentence of five years, and a fine of $250,000. On the exploitation charge, the maximum penalty is 30 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a fine of $250,000.