COURT HOUSE – A 23-year-old school bus aide is the latest to be arrested on child pornography charges in Cape May County.
Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey Sutherland and Middle Township Police Chief Jennifer Pooler announced the arrest of Kathryn Campbell, 23, of Hand Avenue, in Court House, for manufacturing child pornography, as well as possession of child pornography.
As with the previous 11 cases reported to the prosecutor’s office this year, the investigation stemmed from a National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (N.C.M.E.C.) CyberTip that ultimately identified Campbell as a suspect who allegedly used a chat platform to sexually exploit a minor and to possess various images of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).
During the investigation, law enforcement learned that Campbell was employed as a school bus aide for the Middle Township School District.
Police executed a search warrant on Campbell’s residence, located in the 200 block of Hand Avenue. The search warrant was executed by members of the Cape May County Regional S.W.A.T. Team, Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office High-Tech Crimes Unit & Internet Crimes Against Children (I.C.A.C.) Task Force, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI – Atlantic City), and Middle Township Police Department.
The search uncovered several items of evidence, which were seized from Campbell’s residence and found to contain items of suspected CSAM.
Campbell was arrested and charged with first-degree endangering the welfare of a child (manufacturing child pornography), third-degree endangering the welfare of a child (possession of child pornography), and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child (2C:24-4a). Campbell was lodged in the Cape May County Correctional Facility pending court proceedings.
Individuals charged with a first-degree crime are subject to a term of imprisonment of 10 to 20 years in New Jersey state prison and a third-degree crime is subject to a term of imprisonment of three to five years in New Jersey state prison.
Sutherland continues to urge the citizens of Cape May County to report any information regarding child exploitation or any criminal activity within the community. Information can be reported to the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-465-1135, or anonymously on the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office website at cmcpo.tips, as well as through the Cape May County Sheriff’s Tip Line at cmcsheriff.net by clicking on anonymous tip, or by contacting Cape May County Crime Stoppers at 609-889-3597.
