Blackwood Man Pleads Guilty In Child Pornography Sting: Police

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — During the coronavirus pandemic in July of last year, a 36-year-old Gloucester Township man used an instant messaging app to communicate with whom he believed to be a 13-year-old girl, authorities said.

Now, Jason McCann, of the township’s Blackwood section, is looking at three years in state prison, placement on New Jersey’s sex offender registry and parole supervision for life, authorities said on Tuesday.

McCann was one of 15 people arrested in February as part of a massive crackdown on child pornography amid the coronavirus pandemic. Read more here: 15 Arrested In Child Pornography Crackdown Amid COVID: FBI

He was arrested because he sent pictures of his genitals and a video of himself masturbating to an undercover detective posing as a teenage girl, according to authorities.

McCann also attempted to meet the girl for sex at a park in Bordentown Township, according to Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina.

On March 10, McCann pleaded guilty to third-degree attempt to commit endangering the welfare of a child - impairing or debauching the morals of a child, according to authorities.

Under the plea deal, he faces three years in state prison, authorities said. Upon release, he will be placed on the New Jersey sex offender registry and will be subject to parole supervision for life. Sentencing is scheduled for July 14.

During the quarantine, there was a dramatic increase in Internet traffic that resulted in increased opportunities for sexual exploitation of children online, according to authorities who launched the crackdown in March of last year.

In all, 30 people have been arrested through the first two rounds of Operation Safe Quarantine, including eight in the first round. Read more here: Cinnaminson Police Participate In Child Pornography Arrests

The investigations during both phases were spearheaded by the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office High-Tech Crimes Unit, with assistance from the Cinnaminson Township Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New Jersey State Police and United States Homeland Security Investigations – Cherry Hill Office.