Matawan, Keyport men face child porn charges
BY TOM CAIAZZA
Staff Writer

NEWARK - Two Monmouth County men were among 125 arrested in 22 states as part of Operation Emissary, a joint investigation of child pornography conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice and the New Jersey office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Layne Bracht, 24, a former administrative special police officer from Matawan, and Jonathan Burke, 37, a private security officer from Keyport, were arrested on charges of possession and/or receipt of child pornography. Both men accessed the illicit material through the Internet, according to U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie.

"This case should clearly demonstrate to those pedophiles who believe that the Internet provides them with anonymity that they are clearly mistaken," Christie said in a press release issued on Oct. 18.

"As this investigation amply illustrates, there is no safe haven for child sex predators," he said.

The investigation focused on a commercial Web site offering hardcore images of children, the press release stated. Those arrested allegedly subscribed to the Web site during a period of two to three months at the end of 2005 and the beginning of 2006. The Web site explicitly told subscribers that the material contained within was illegal and that they should be "discreet about their purchase," the press release said.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, a conviction for possession of child pornography carries a 10-year maximum sentence and a $250,000 fine. Conviction for receipt of the material carries a 20-year maximum sentence with a five-year minimum requirement.

Both men are awaiting grand jury hearings to decide whether or not to indict. Bracht voluntarily surrendered to police on Oct. 18 while Burke was arrested on June 5 and released on $100,000 bond.

Christie warned of the investigatory power of the U.S. Attorney's Office.

"The Internet has a global reach," he said, "but so do we."