Berkeley Man, Lakehurst Ex-Deacon, Charged With Having Child Porn

Update: Father Jim O'Neill, the pastor at St. John's Roman Catholic Church, said Laterza does not serve at the church anymore.

BERKELEY, NJ — A Berkeley man, who served as a deacon at a Lakehurst church, was charged Thursday with possessing child pornography. Authorities made "appropriate notifications" after after finding out he serves as a deacon for a church in Lakehurst, according to Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.

Billhimer didn't specify which church. But several online documents list him as a deacon at the St. John's Roman Catholic Church.

Father Jim O'Neill, the pastor at St. John's Roman Catholic Church, said Laterza does not serve at the church.

"Deacon Anthony served as a deacon at St. John's for a couple months at the end of 2019. He has not served here at St. John's this year. Nor does he serve as a deacon anywhere in the Diocese of Trenton," O'Neill said in an email to Patch.

The OCPO received a referral about Laterza from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, through New Jersey State Police. The investigation identified the 70-year-old downloading pictures of child pornography, according to the OCPO.

Authorities seized electronic devices from Laterza's home, which revealed apparent images of child pornography, the OCPO said.

Laterza was charged with three counts of child pornography possession. Officials placed him in the Ocean County Jail, pending a detention hearing.

With reporting from Karen Wall/Patch

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