Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on June 20, 2023, Michael Kozdron, 41, of Little Egg Harbor Township, was charged with Distribution of Child Pornography, Possession of Child Pornography, Maintaining or Operating a Controlled Dangerous Substance Production Facility, and Possession of More than Ten but less than Fifty Marijuana Plants with Intent to Distribute.
An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit identified an IP address associated with a Little Egg Harbor Township residence as a location where an individual was uploading images of child pornography to the internet using bittorrent Peer 2 Peer file sharing software; that individual was ultimately identified as Kozdron.
On June 20, 2023, Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, and Little Egg Harbor Township Police Department, executed a court-authorized search warrant on Kozdron’s residence in Little Egg Harbor Township. Upon entry, Detectives observed – in plain view – 14 marijuana plants, lights, seeds, ventilation and irrigation systems, and assorted paraphernalia utilized to maintain and grow marijuana plants.
Further investigation revealed that Kozdron had utilized a laptop, found at the residence, to both upload and download in excess of 1000 images of child pornography from the internet. Kozdron was taken to Little Egg Harbor Township Police Headquarters, processed, and subsequently transported to the Ocean County Jail where he presently remains pending a detention hearing.
Prosecutor Billhimer commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, Little Egg Harbor Township Police Department, and Little Egg Harbor Township Police Department Detective Bureau, for their collaborative assistance in connection with this investigation leading to Kozdron’s arrest.
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).