Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on March 25, 2026, Christian Kohl, 47, of Brick Township, pled guilty to Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material before the Honorable Guy P. Ryan, P.J.Cr.P. At the time of his sentencing on May 29, 2026, the State will be seeking a term of five years New Jersey State Prison with a five-year term of parole ineligibility. The State will seek Parole Supervision for Life, and Kohl will be required to register as a Megan’s Law Offender.
This investigation was the result of a referral from the New Jersey State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. The ICAC Task Force received cyber-tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an individual was sending/receiving images of child pornography from the internet.
An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit identified an IP address associated with a Brick Township residence as the location from which the individual was accessing images of child pornography from the internet. During the months of May 2024 through August 2024, a Detective conducted an undercover chat investigation on the Kik messenger service. During the course of the investigation, the Detective – posing as a 14-year-old girl – engaged in conversations with a user who identified himself as a 38-year-old male. During these conversations, the user sent numerous inappropriate nude photos and videos of himself to the Detective, although the Detective advised the user that “she” was only 14 years-old on multiple occasions. The user was ultimately identified as Kohl.
On August 15, 2024, Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, and Brick Township Police Department, executed a court-authorized search warrant on Kohl’s residence in Brick Township. An initial forensic examination of Kohl’s cell phone by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit led to the discovery of several items of child pornography. Kohl was taken into custody at his residence without incident. He was transported to the Ocean County Jail and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform. Further investigation revealed that Kohl sent/shared more than 25 items of Child Pornography to various users utilizing the Kik messenger application.
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Shanon Chant-Berry and Assistant Prosecutor Lynn Juan who are handling the case on behalf of the State, and commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Brick Township Police Department, and New Jersey State Police ICAC Task Force, for their collaborative assistance in connection with this investigation.