By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Ocean County announced that on May 3, Matthew Robles, 32, of Lakewood, was sentenced by the Honorable Guy P. Ryan, P.J.Cr.P., to seven years at New Jersey State Prison (NJSP) - with five years of parole ineligibility - as a result of his previously entered guilty plea to Distribution of Explicit Images Involving Minors.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said that, additionally, Judge Ryan sentenced Robles to three years NJSP for 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, officials stated.
According to officials, 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, officials said, Megan’s Law has required certain offenders to register with their local police departments whenever they move and/or change their residential address or place of employment.
Officials say on July 26, 2022, Officers from the Division of Parole conducted a home visit and discovered Explicit Images Involving Minors on Robles’ cellular phone.
Authorities say 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, officials stated.
Officials said that 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 Explicit Images Involving Minors on the internet by way of the WhatsApp Application, officials say.
According to officials, on August 5, 2022, Robles was served with a complaint initially charging him with Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.
Officials stated that on August 8, 2022, Robles was served with an additional complaint charging him with the Distribution of Explicit Images Involving Minors.
Robles was originally lodged in NJSP as a result of his parole violations, officials said.
Authorities say on July 25, 2023, Robles was transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he was detained until sentencing.