Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on June 18, 2026, James Vavra, 74, of Point Pleasant Borough, pled guilty before the Honorable Guy P. Ryan, P.J.Cr.P., to Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material. At the time of his sentencing on August 28, 2026, the State will be seeking a term of 10 years New Jersey State Prison. Vavra would also be subject to Parole Supervision for Life and 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 a cyber-tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an individual was uploading images of child sexual abuse material to the internet.
An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Squad identified an IP address associated with a Point Pleasant Borough residence as the location from which the individual was uploading images of child sexual abuse material from the internet. That individual was ultimately identified as Vavra.
On October 23, 2025, Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Squad, Point Pleasant Borough Police Department, and Ocean County Regional SWAT Team, executed a court-authorized search warrant on Vavra’s residence where several electronic devices were seized. A forensic examination of those devices by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Squad led to the discovery of more than 1,000 items of child sexual abuse material. Vavra was taken into custody at the Point Pleasant Borough Police Department, transported to the Ocean County Jail, and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Shanon Chant-Berry who is handling the case on behalf of the State and commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Squad, Point Pleasant Borough Police Department, Ocean County Regional SWAT Team, New Jersey State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, for their collaborative assistance in connection with this investigation.