By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Mercer County announced that an investigation into online child exploitation by the prosecutor’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit has resulted in the arrest of a retired Hamilton Township school teacher.
Mercer County Prosecutor Janetta D. Marbrey reported that Mark Paulino, 64, is charged with one count of second-degree distribution of explicit materials involving minors (CSAM), one count of second-degree possession with the intent to distribute CSAM, one count of third-degree possession of CSAM, and one count of endangering the welfare of a child.
The prosecutor’s office has filed a motion to detain Paulino pending trial.
According to Mercer County officials, on Thursday evening, December 4, detectives with the prosecutor’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit received information from the New Jersey State Police ICAC Unit that an individual residing in Hamilton Township, Mercer County, had uploaded multiple files of suspected CSAM to the internet. An investigation was initiated, and Paulino was identified as a subject.
According to his website, Paulino recently retired from the Hamilton Township School District as an elementary school teacher and is now a Santa character available for photographs and private, corporate, and organizational events. Due to his active engagement with young children in that role, detectives worked around the clock to obtain a search warrant.
MCPO officials say that on Friday afternoon, December 5, members of the prosecutor’s ICAC Unit, with assistance from the prosecutor’s Economic Crime, Cyber Crimes, and Domestic Violence units, and Hamilton Police SWAT, executed a search warrant at Paulino’s Hamilton Township residence, where detectives seized multiple items of evidentiary value. Paulino was taken into custody without incident.
Second-degree crimes carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000.
The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the prosecutor’s ICAC Unit at (609) 989-6568.