By: Richard L. Smith
U.S. Attorney Alina Habba reported today that a Union County man was charged with possessing images of child explicit contact and enticing a minor to engage in prostitution and produce explicit images of minors.
Federal officials said Mr. Jack Wilder, 26, of Somerville, was charged by complaint with one count of possession of explicit images of minors and two counts of enticement of a minor.
He made his initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Hammer in Newark federal court and was detained.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In or around February 2024, Wilder, a history teacher at Barack Obama Charter School in Plainfield, communicated with a minor victim using a mobile payment application through which Wilder advised he would pay the minor victim to engage in explicit activity.
The minor victim also sent Wilder explicit pictures. Thereafter, on or about July 23, 2024, Wilder returned from an international trip aboard a flight that landed in New York. 
Law enforcement subsequently lawfully searched Wilder’s cell phone and found a video depicting explicit images of minors and explicit conversations between Wilder and other individuals who identified themselves as minors.