Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina and Maple Shade Police Chief Gary C. Gubbei announced that a Maple Shade man was arrested on Friday for possession of child pornography.
Jonathan S. Conklin, 33, of the 2800 block of Route 73 south, was charged with one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Third Degree).
The investigation, which began when the Prosecutor’s Office High-Tech Crimes Unit received intelligence from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, revealed that Conklin possessed a digital image of a man having intercourse with a pre-pubescent girl.
Conklin was taken into custody at his residence on March 30 following the execution of a search warrant by investigators from the Prosecutor’s Office, the Maple Shade Police Department, the New Jersey State Police, and the United States Immigrations and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations
Multiple electronic devices were seized during the search and will be analyzed by detectives from the High-Tech Crimes Unit. Conklin, a self-employed painter, was arrested without incident.
The case will be presented to a Burlington County Grand Jury to be considered for indictment. Assistant Prosecutor Stephen Eife, supervisor of the BCPO Sexual Assault/Child Abuse Unit, will prosecute the case.
The investigation was conducted by the BCPO High-Tech Crimes Unit, which 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.
The lead investigator was Detective Sergeant Dave Kohler, supervisor of the High-Tech Crimes Unit.
All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.