By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Morris County announced that a Morris County man who was employed by a New Jersey elementary school and helped run a youth soccer club was sentenced today to 204 months in prison for producing and possessing explicit images of minors.
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said Steven Brooks, 37, of Morristown, previously pleaded guilty before former U.S. District Judge John Michael Vazquez to an information charging him with one count of production of explicit images of minors and one count of possession of explicit images of minors.
Officials said U.S. District Judge Brian Martinotti imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In January 2021, officials stated that law enforcement officers were notified about possible explicit images of minors on an external hard drive belonging to Brooks.
Pursuant to judicially authorized search warrants, law enforcement officers searched Brooks’ external hard drives, electronic devices, and social media accounts, according to officials.
Officials say Brooks utilized a fake online persona on social media platforms to solicit photos and videos from dozens of minors that depicted the minors engaging in explicit activity.
Brooks acknowledged, as relevant conduct, the attempted online enticement, production, and possession of explicit images of minors involving at least 79 victims, officials said.
Authorities say in addition to the prison term, Judge Martinotti sentenced Brooks to 10 years of supervised release and ordered restitution of $237,000.