Hillsborough Man Accused Of Sharing Child Porn, Endangering Welfare Of Child

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — A Hillsborough man was arrested after police say he had and shared child pornography and engaged in sexually explicit conversations with two minors while in the Township.

Adam Rose, 33, of Hillsborough, was arrested following a tip received by the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office concerning the possession and distribution of files depicting the sexual abuse and/or exploitation of a minor via a social media platform, announced Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald.

Rose was identified as the suspect who possessed and distributed files depicting the sexual abuse and/or exploitation of a minor via a social media platform, following an investigation by detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office(SCPO) Special Investigations/Computer Crimes Unit, said McDonald.

On Jan. 8, electronic devices were seized from Rose's home for further forensic analysis following a search by detectives with the SCPO and Hillsborough Police.

Rose was taken to the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office and charged with second-degree distribution of child sexual abuse materials and third-degree possession of child sexual abuse materials.

Rose was lodged at the Somerset County Jail and was later released from custody after making an appearance in Superior Court.

Further investigation into Rose's electronic devices taken from his home found he had been communicating via a social media platform with two separate juvenile victims, a 14-year-old female and a 12-year-old male, said McDonald.

Authorities interviewed both juvenile victims and confirmed that Rose engaged in sexually explicit conversations with both victims, said McDonald.

On Jan. 16, Rose was arrested without incident. He was taken to the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office where he was charged with two counts of third-degree providing obscene material to a minor, two counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child and one additional count of third-degree possession of child sexual abuse materials.

Rose was taken to the Somerset County Jail, and he remains lodged pending a court hearing in this matter.

McDonald thanked members of the following agencies: the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the Hillsborough Township Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police and the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency for their help with this investigation.

Anyone with information relating to this investigation is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations/Computer Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100 or the Hillsborough Township Police Department at 908-369-4323 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smartphone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ.

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.