Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on May 3, 2024, Matthew Robles, 32, of Lakewood, was sentenced by the Honorable Guy P. Ryan, P.J.Cr.P., to seven years New Jersey State Prison (NJSP) – with a five year period of parole ineligibility – as a result of his previously entered guilty plea to Distribution of Child Pornography. Additionally, Judge Ryan sentenced Robles to three years NJSP as a result of his previously entered guilty plea to Failure to Register as a Megan’s Law Offender. The sentences will run concurrently. Robles pled guilty to the charges before Judge Ryan on May 15, 2023.
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 – had 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. On August 8, 2022, Robles was served with an additional complaint charging him with Distribution of Child Pornography. Robles was originally lodged in NJSP as a result of his parole violations. On July 25, 2023, Robles was transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he was detained until sentencing.
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Senior Assistant Prosecutor Shanon Chant-Berry and Assistant Prosecutor Natalie Pouch who handled the case on behalf of the State, and 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, guilty pleas, and now his state prison sentence.