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Suspicious Death Investigation Leads to Arrest of Man Accused of Downloading Child Sexual Abuse Images, Videos

Pohatcong Township

A Pennsylvania man was arrested at his home this morning for allegedly downloading multiple images and videos of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Derrick Baer, 32, of Bath, Pennsylvania, and formerly of Pohatcong is charged by complaint with one count of receiving child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography. He is scheduled to make his initial court appearance later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: In May 2010, in connection with an investigation into a suspicious death at Baer’s residence, law enforcement obtained Baer’s consent to seize computer equipment in his residence.

A subsequent forensic review of that equipment made pursuant to a search warrant revealed 368 images and 29 video files of child pornography.

Law enforcement later determined that Baer used a file sharing program to download multiple files in January and February 2009.

The receipt of child pornography count with which Baer is charged is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison, a minimum penalty of five years in prison, and a fine of $250,000. The possession count is punishable by a maximum potential sentence of 10 years in prison.

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