By: Richard L. Smith
NJ High-Tech detectives located over 340k images and videos from a South Jersey Man last week.
According to a statement released by Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw, the 69-year-old Eastampton man has been charged with first-degree Explicit Images of Minors (CSAM).
Officials say Lawrence Bayern was taken into custody at his residence on April 29 and lodged in the Burlington County Jail in Mount Holly.
Multiple electronic devices were seized during the execution of a search warrant and subsequently analyzed by detectives from the BCPO High-Tech Crimes Unit.
According to Prosecutor Bradshaw, while scouring storage drives and a cell phone, investigators discovered that Bayern was in possession of more than 340,000 images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a minor.
As a result, the CSAM possession charge against Bayern was upgraded to a first-degree offense. A detention hearing will be held soon in Superior Court. The case will then be prepared for presentation to a grand jury for possible indictment.
The investigation began after law enforcement officials received information from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children concerning Bayern’s online activities.
It was conducted by the Prosecutor’s Office, with assistance from the Eastampton Township Police Department and the Mount Laurel Police Department.
The lead investigator is Mount Laurel Police Department Investigator Angelica Lugo, who is presently assigned to the BCPO High-Tech Crimes Unit as a Task Force Officer. Bayern will be prosecuted by the BCPO Special Victims Unit.
The Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office is a member of the New Jersey Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (NJ ICAC Task Force).
All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.