CAMDEN –
A 26-year-old North Arlington man was sentenced last week to 10 years, plus one month, in federal prison for distribution of child pornography.
The defendant, Eric Prawetz, pleaded guilty Jan. 4 before U.S. District Judge Joseph H. Rodriguez in Federal Court in Camden, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
It was just a year ago, on Jan. 11, 2010, that law enforcement officers seized Prawetz’ laptop computer. According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court, that computer contained nearly 1,400 photographs and 232 videos depicting children engaging in sexually explicit conduct with other children and with adults.
Prawetz, who lived on Gold St. and had been employed as a landscaper in Butler, admitted he had been collecting child pornography for approximately 12 years, Fishman’s office said. That would mean the defendant was just 14 when he began his collection. Prawetz distributed the material via peer-to-peer software and through his multiple email accounts.
In addition to the prison term, Prawetz must serve 15 years of supervised release when his term ends.
As part of his plea agreement, he agreed to forfeit his computer, its hard drive and other electronic storage media he had used to commit the crime.
Fishman cited agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent Michael B. Ward, for their investigation of the case. The N.J. Division of Criminal Justice and the State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force assisted, as did Det. Lt. Keith Walton of the North Arlington Police Department.
–––– Karen Zautyk
Article source: http://www.theobserver.com/articles/2011/01/12/news/doc4d2cb40e8abec585799234.txt
Category: Prison Time