Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino announced that a Middlesex County man was sentenced to state prison today for distributing explicit images of minors on the internet.
Authorities today sentenced Johnny Sims, 64, of North Brunswick, to three years in state prison by Superior Court Judge Benjamin S. Bucca Jr. in Middlesex County after he pleaded guilty on Aug. 21 to second-degree distribution of explicit images of minors. He will be required to register as a sex offender under Megan’s Law and will be subject to parole supervision for life.
In pleading guilty, Sims admitted that he knowingly used internet file-sharing software to make files containing explicit images of minors readily available for any other user to download from a designated “shared folder” on his computer. Numerous videos of explicit images of minors, including child rape videos, were found on his computer.
“Those who share explicit images of minors online share in the brutal exploitation of innocent children by promoting and creating a market for these vile materials,” said Attorney General Porrino. “Offenders like Sims directly motivate those who sexually abuse children to create explicit images of minors, and they perpetually re-victimize the children whose images can never be erased from the internet.”
“The videos and images Mr. Sims was collecting and sharing represent some of the most revolting and hideous acts a person can inflict on another, especially an innocent child,” said Colonel Patrick Callahan, Acting Superintendent, New Jersey State Police. “The law enforcement community is placing these depraved individuals on notice that we are actively working together to uncover their repulsive deeds and bring them to justice.”
A detective of the New Jersey State Police Digital Technology Investigations Unit was investigating individuals using file-sharing software to share explicit images of minors on a peer-to-peer (P2P) network on the internet when he identified a computer that was being used to share explicit images of minors.
The detective downloaded two videos of prepubescent girls being raped and molested by adult males from a shared folder at the IP address, which was traced to Sims’ residence in North Brunswick. On June 10, 2016, detectives from the Division of Criminal Justice assisted by the North Brunswick Police Department executed a search warrant at the residence, where they arrested Sims and seized his computer.
A forensic examination of the computer revealed more than 20 videos of explicit images of minors, a majority of which were located in a shared folder set up by Sims.
Attorney General Porrino and Director Honig urged anyone with information about the distribution of explicit images of minors on the internet – or about suspected improper contact by unknown persons communicating with children online or possible exploitation or sexual abuse of children – to please contact the New Jersey Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force tip line at 888-648-6007.