Somerset County Local Admits Sharing Videos, Images Of Child Sex Abuse

SOMERVILLE, NJ — A Somerset County resident admitted sharing videos and images of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Marcevan Manasse, 28, Somerville, pleaded guilty on Thursday before Judge Michael A. Shipp in Trenton federal court to an information charging one count of distribution of child pornography.

From Sept. 20, 2020, through Nov. 22, 2020, Manasse shared material containing images and video files of child sexual abuse through a publicly available online peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing network of linked computers, according to documents filed in this case and statements made in court.

Police went undercover online to access the P2P program and downloaded five video files and 11 images containing child pornography from an IP address assigned to an internet service provider account associated with Manasse’s home, authorities said.

These files included multiple visual depictions of pre-pubescent children being sexually abused by adults, according to authorities.

Manasse faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000 for the count of child pornography.

Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 23, 2024.

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