Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina and Evesham Township Police Chief Christopher Chew announced that a 61-year-old township man has been charged with possession of child pornography.
Scott J. Lucas, of the first block of Sheffield Drive in the Marlton section of the township, was charged March 8 with one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Third Degree).
The investigation began earlier this year after the BCPO High-Tech Crimes Unit received information regarding Lucas’s online activity from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
The investigation revealed that Lucas would use online search engines to locate pictures of nude pre-pubescent girls.
Lucas was taken into custody March 8 following the execution of a search warrant at his residence. A preliminary review of personal electronic devices seized at that time by High-Tech Crimes Unit detectives revealed the presence of child pornography files.
The case will now be prepared for presentation to a Burlington County Grand Jury for possible indictment.
The investigation was conducted by the BCPO High-Tech Crimes Unit, with assistance from United States Homeland Security Investigations – Cherry Hill Office, and the Evesham Township Police Department.
The lead investigator is BCPO Detective Kevin Sobotka. The Prosecutor’s Office High-Tech Crimes Unit is a member of the New Jersey State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and the New Jersey State Police Cyber Terrorism Task Force.
All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.