A Princeton man was arrested Tuesday following a Mercer County investigation into online child exploitation, authorities said.
Austin Brock, 30, was taken into custody without incident after a search warrant was executed at his home by the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations.
Brock is charged with second-degree distribution of child sexual abuse material, second-degree possession with intent to distribute child sexual abuse material, and third-degree possession of child sexual abuse material.
If convicted, the charges could carry prison sentences ranging from three to 10 years and fines of up to $150,000.
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the investigation began after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) reported that someone in Mercer County had uploaded material portraying the sexual exploitation of children. Investigators later identified Brock as a suspect.
Prosecutors confirmed that Brock is an employee at Life Time Fitness in Plainsboro and a volunteer firefighter with the Princeton Fire Department.
Authorities did not say whether the charges are connected to his employment or volunteer work.
The investigation remains ongoing. Prosecutor Janetta D. Marbrey urged anyone with information about online exploitation or inappropriate contact with minors to contact the ICAC Unit at (609) 989-6568 or call the New Jersey ICAC Task Force tip line at (888) 648-6007.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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