Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced today that Tray Barnard, a 33-year-old Newark substitute teacher who lives in East Orange, was sentenced to five years in New Jersey State Prison by the Honorable Sherry Hutchins-Henderson for distributing explicit images of minors.
Following an investigation by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit, Barnard was charged with four counts of endangering the welfare of a child by distributing explicit images of minors. He pled guilty to one count of second degree distribution of explicit images of minors. Under the terms of the plea agreement he was sentenced to five years in state prison and will be subject to Megan’s Law registration when he is released from prison.
According to Deputy Chief Assistant Prosecutor, Walter Dirkin, who handled the case, Barnard was involved in the distribution of explicit images of minors through peer to peer file sharing software in March and April of 2012. The pornography involved adult males with prepubescent females.
“The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute those who trade in the sexual abuse images of young children,” said Dirkin.
SUBSTITUTE TEACHER SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS FOR DISTRIBUTING Explicit Images of Minors
Newark