Prosecutor: Somerset County Music Teacher Had Images Of Child Sex Abuse

A Somerset County man was arrested Wednesday after FBI agents found sexually explicit images of children on his home computer, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Cliff Ramsay, 30, of Raritan is charged by complaint with one count of accessing images of child sexual abuse and one count of possessing images of child sexual abuse. He appeared Wednesday afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Arpert in Trenton federal court and was detained pending a bail hearing.

According to the criminal complaint filed today and statements made in court:

On Feb. 25 and 27, Ramsay, a middle school music teacher who also gave music lessons to minors at his home, accessed a website known to contain images, videos and other material containing child pornography.

After a search warrant was executed at Ramsay’s home earlier today, law enforcement agents found numerous videos and images of child sexual abuse on his computer, including material depicting prepubescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

Each count charged in the complaint carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Richard M. Frankel in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s arrest. Fishman also thanked the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Geoffrey D. Soriano.