Atlantic County Ex-Principal Admits To Distributing Child Porn

MAYS LANDING, NJ — An Absecon man and former high school principal pleaded guilty Wednesday to distributing child pornography, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office announced. Edward Bonek, the former Pleasantville High School principal, was indicted October 2018.

Bonek pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child via child-pornography distribution, along with possessing an assault firearm. He agreed to forfeit his principal and teacher's licenses. He is currently in the Atlantic County Justice Facility and is scheduled for sentencing Feb. 7.

The Absecon man had more than 1,000 images of child pornography, which he downloaded and shared online through his work-issued laptop, according to the ACPO.

"Children are among the most vulnerable victims in our society," said County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner, "and it is almost inconceivable that a predator, in the form of a high school principal, had access to potential victims every day he reported for duty. I am outraged by the continuous assault upon the children in our community."

Bonek was indicted on the following charges Oct. 23, 2018, according to the ACPO:

• endangering child welfare through distributing child pornography (first-degree)
• endangering child welfare through child pornography possession (second-degree)
• endangering child welfare through possession of child pornography with intent to distribute (first-degree)
• endangering child welfare through distributing child pornography via a file-sharing system (first-degree)
• official misconduct (second-degree)
• unlawful possession of an assault firearm (second-degree)
• unlawful possession of a high capacity ammunition magazine (fourth-degree)

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