LAWRENCE: Local man is charged with child pornography

By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
   Duane Bell, a 43-year-old Lawrence resident, was among 25 men — including one juvenile — who were arrested on charges of possession and distribution of child pornography in a statewide sweep last month, New Jersey Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa announced last week.
   Mr. Bell, who was among the men arrested between Feb. 18 and Feb. 22, was charged with possession of child pornography and distribution of child pornography, according to a press release issued by the Attorney General’s Office Feb. 27.
   The Digital Technology Investigations Unit of the State Police began the investigation about three months ago by searching for New Jersey residents who were making child pornography available to others, Mr. Chiesa said.
   The videos and images are passed back and forth among users through emails and by way of file sharing networks, Mr. Chiesa said. The networks operate the same way as websites used for privately sharing music or movies. Because many of the videos and photos keep recirculating, they make perpetual victims of the children abused in the production of child pornography, he said.
   ”Anyone who views and distributes child pornography — particularly the type of child rape videos targeted in this operation — puts himself in league with the predators who sexually assault children to create these videos,” Mr. Chiesa said.
   ”The children they watch being tortured are violated again by their actions, and these offenders may pose a danger to other children because of their predilections. We will remain every vigilant to stop this predatory behavior against children,” he said.