A 33-year-old Hillsborough Township man was charged in relation to possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material, providing obscene materials to a minor and endangering the welfare of a child in the township, according to Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives Francisco Roman J., and Hillsborough Township Chief of Police Mike McMahon.
Adam Rose was initially charged on Jan. 8 with second degree, distribution of child sexual abuse materials and third degree, possession of child sexual abuse materials, according to the prosecutor’s office on Feb. 5. Rose was lodged at the Somerset County Jail and was later released from custody after making an appearance in Superior Court.
After further investigation, Rose was arrested by members of the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations/Computer Crimes Unit in Readington without incident on Jan. 16. Rose was transported to the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office where he was charged with two counts of third degree, providing obscene material to a minor, two counts of third degree, endangering the welfare of a child and one additional count of third degree, possession of child sexual abuse materials. Rose was transported to the Somerset County Jail, and he remains lodged pending a court hearing in this matter.
The New Jersey State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force notified the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office of a Cyber Tipline Report provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children concerning the possession and distribution of files depicting the sexual abuse and/or exploitation of a minor via a social media platform.
Upon receiving this Cyber Tipline Report, an investigation was initiated by the detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations/Computer Crimes Unit. The investigation led to the identification of Rose as the suspect who possessed and distributed files depicting the sexual abuse and/or exploitation of a minor via a social media platform, according to a press release through the prosecutor’s office.
Detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, along with members of the Hillsborough Township Police Department, executed a Superior Court search warrant at Rose’s residence on Jan. 8. As a result of the search warrant, electronic devices were seized from the residence for further forensic analysis. Rose was taken into custody and transported to the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office.
Detectives conducted further investigation into the examination of Rose’s electronic devices seized from his residence on Jan. 8. As a result of this investigation, Rose was found to be communicating via a social media platform with two separate juvenile victims, a 14-year-old female and a 12-year-old male. Law enforcement officers interviewed both juvenile victims and confirmed that Rose engaged in sexually explicit conversations with both victims.
McDonald thanked members of the following agencies: the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the Hillsborough Township Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police and the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency for their assistance with this investigation.
Anyone with information relating to this investigation to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations/Computer Crimes Unit at (908) 231-7100 or the Hillsborough Township Police Department at (908) 369-4323 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports, and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.
