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More Than Two Dozen Arrested In Statewide Child Porn Bust In New Jersey

HAMILTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Authorities in New Jersey have arrested more than two dozen people in a major statewide child pornography sweep.

Five of those arrested had direct contact with young children, including two babysitters, authorities said. At this point, it doesn't appear they victimized children in their care, 1010 WINS' Steve Sandberg reported.

During the investigation, officials seized sexually explicit videos that were distributed through emails and file sharing networks of children all under 10-years-old, authorities said.

More Than Two Dozen Arrested In Statewide Child Porn Bust In New Jersey

"I won't mince words, the videos we're talking about are largely the rape of young children or being coerced and performing sexual acts on others or themselves," said New Jersey Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa. "These are truly vile materials produced by torturing children."

Detectives also discovered videos portraying necrophilia and bestiality during the searches, officials said.

The New Jersey State Police Digital Technology Unit investigated the suspects over three months on a file-sharing network.

"The videos that we discussed, they come from various different locations," said State Police Sgt. John Gorman.

More Than Two Dozen Arrested In Statewide Child Porn Bust In New Jersey

Arrests were carried out between Feb. 18 and 22 in 10 counties, including Middlesex, Bergen and Passaic, Sandberg reported.

"Anyone who views and distributes child pornography – particularly the type of child rape videos targeted in this operation – puts himself in league with the predators who sexually assault children to create these videos," Chiesa stated. "The children they watch being tortured are violated again by their actions, and these offenders may pose a danger to other children because of their predilections.  We will remain ever vigilant to stop this predatory behavior against children."

"Everyone sitting in the seclusion of their darkened homes viewing child rape videos has victimized these innocents by creating the market for this disgusting material. There's no room for them to say, 'I haven't hurt anyone,'" the State Police superintendent, Col. Rick Fuentes, said in a written statement.

A 17-year-old from Cherry Hill and 24 men have been charged with second-degree distribution of child pornography and fourth-degree possession of child porn.

If convicted, the defendants face five to 10 years in prison.

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