Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on August 8, 2022, Matthew Robles, 31, of Lakewood was charged with two counts of Distribution of Child Pornography in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(a)(i), as well as Possession of Child Pornography in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)(iii). Robles had previously been charged with Failure to Register as a Sex Offender in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:7-2d(1), on August 5, 2022.
An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Megan’s Law Unit revealed that Robles – a Megan’s Law Registrant under the supervision of the New Jersey Division of Parole- has been employed at a local business establishment in Brick Township without registering or notifying any law enforcement agencies. Since 1994, Megan’s Law requires certain offenders to register with their local police departments whenever they move and/or change their residential address or place of employment.
On July 26, 2022, Officers from the Division of Parole conducted a home visit and discovered images of child pornography on Robles’ cellular phone. Robles was taken into custody and transported to the Ocean County Jail for various violations of his parole. All of Robles’ electronic devices were seized by law enforcement for forensic examination purposes.
On July 28, 2022, Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit executed a court authorized search warrant on Robles’ electronic devices. As a result, Detectives discovered that Robles had been uploading and sharing images of child pornography on the internet by way of the WhatsApp Application. On August 5, 2022, Robles was served with a complaint initially charging him with Failure to Register as a Sex Offender at the Ocean County Jail. On August 8, 2022, Robles was served with the previously referenced complaints in connection with the child pornography charges. He remains lodged in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.
Anyone with relevant information regarding this case or other persons violating Megan’s Law requirements should contact Sergeant John Argento of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 929 2027, extension 2903. The information may be provided anonymously. For further information, please visit the State Police Sex Offender Internet Registry at http://www.njsp.org/sex-offender-registry/index.shtml
Prosecutor Billhimer commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Megan’s Law Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, New Jersey Division of Parole, and Lakewood Township Police Department, for their collaborative assistance in connection with this investigation leading to Robles’ arrest and appropriate charges.
The charges referenced above are merely accusations and the press and public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
R.P.C. 3.6(b)(6).