Crime & Safety

Bedminster Man Charged With Having Child Pornography

Authorities say they found images depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child on William H. Maass, Jr.'s computer and devices.

William H. Maass, Jr., 62, of Autumn Ridge Road in Bedminster was charged with third-degree possession of child pornography and third-degree possession of child erotica.
William H. Maass, Jr., 62, of Autumn Ridge Road in Bedminster was charged with third-degree possession of child pornography and third-degree possession of child erotica. (Courtesy of Somerset County Prosecutor's Office)

BEDMINSTER, NJ — A Bedminster man was charged after police say they found child pornography on his computers.

William H. Maass, Jr., 62, of Autumn Ridge Road in Bedminster was charged with third-degree possession of child pornography and third-degree possession of child erotica, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson announced.

Prompted by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations/Computer Crimes Unit began investigating Maass, who was suspected of uploading numerous sexually explicit images of children under the age of 18, said Robertson.

Find out what's happening in Bridgewaterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Last Tuesday, March 2 at about 6:35 a.m., Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Detectives, along with the Bedminster Township Police Department, searched Maass’ residence and took electronic devices including computers and external storage drives.

Authorities found images depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child on Maass' devices, said Robertson.

Find out what's happening in Bridgewaterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Maass was charged, processed and released pending a court appearance in this matter.

Anyone with information relating to this investigation is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Special Investigations Unit/Computer Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100 or the Bedminster Township Police Department at 908-234-0585 or via the STOPit app.

Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here. Don't miss local and statewide announcements. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.