Toms River Schools Janitor Arrested on Child Pornography Charges

On Wednesday, Ocean County Prosecutors arrested  a 27 year old Waretown man  and a Jackson Township man in connection with an investigation into the possession and distribution of child pornography.

Toms River Schools Janitor Arrested

“The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crimes Unit and the Ocean Township Police executed a search warrant at 48 Dock Ave, Waretown. The location was identified as a distribution point for the on line distribution of pornographic images of children.  Based upon our investigation we believe there is probably cause to target the defendant, Stephen Tisch, 27, the resident at that address, as the person involved in the distribution network,” explained Prosecutor Ford.

“Tisch is employed as a custodian at the Walnut Street Elementary Schoo lin Toms River, and apparently has been so employed for the past seven years.  At this point there is no evidence that any children at the elementary school have been in contact with the defendant, or that any of the children are the subject of any images.  However, the Toms River Regional School District has been advised of this arrest, and I have been assured that Superintendent Roselli is taking appropriate action to notify parents,” said Prosecutor Ford.

Tisch  has been charged with one count of possession of child pornography and one count of distribution of child pornography.  Bail was set in the amount of $75,000, no 10%, by the Honorable Ronald Hoffman, Judge of the Superior Court.  As a condition of bail, Tisch is prohibited from accessing the internet, and from having any unsupervised contact with minors.  Tisch is presently lodged in the Ocean County Jail in default of bail.

In Jackson Township, Ocean County Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford announced today the arrest of a  man, Thomas Genovese,  for possession and Distribution of Child Pornography.

“The prosecutor’s Office, High Tech Crimes Unit and the Jackson Township Police Department executed a court authorized search warrant at the residence Thomas Genovese.  Police were acting upon a tip received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.  Based upon information received in this investigation, Mr. Genovese was charged with 1 count of Distribution of Child Pornography and 1 count of Possession of Child Pornography,” said Prosecutor Ford.

Bail for Genovese was set by Muncipal Court Judge Daniel Sahin in the amount of $75,000 no 10%. As a condition of bail, the defendant is to have no contact order with children.  In default of bail, Mr. Genovese is being housed in the Ocean County Jail.

Assistant Prosecutor Michel Paulhaus told JTOWN magazine yesterday that all arrests have been made in this case and that there were no other suspects.

“This is another example of a cooperative investigation involving the National Centerfor Missing and Exploited Children and local law enforcement.  This is a continuing investigation, and anyone with information relevant to this investigation is asked to contact the lead investigator, Det. James Hill of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, High Tech Crimes Unit, 732-929-2027,” said Prosecutor Ford.

 
“The public is reminded that criminal charges are merely accusations and that these defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.” the Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement this morning.

Posted by Ocean County News on Apr 27 2012. Filed under Police Blotter, Schools. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.