Monmouth Co. Man Posed As Teen, Solicited Explicit Pics: AG

UNION BEACH, NJ - A Monmouth County man admitted to knowingly receiving child pornography, authorities announced Wednesday.

Herman Christopher Jensen, 68, of Union Beach, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan to an information charging him with one count of knowingly receiving child pornography, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig said.

Between January and August 2018, Jensen reportedly created a Facebook account purporting to be a 17-year-old boy named Kevin Bennett. The account was used to communicate with an underage victim frequently, causing her to believe that she was involved in a romantic relationship with “Kevin Bennett.”

The profile was used to entice and solicit the victim to send nude and sexually explicit images over the internet, authorities said. The 68-year-old man requested nude and semi-nude photographs from the victim through Facebook’s messenger service, with Jensen receiving increasingly explicit videos depicting the victim engaging in sexually explicit activity.

In August 2018, Jensen revealed to the victim that he was not the 17-year-old Kevin Bennett, but was instead an adult named Chris Jensen. However, the victim continued to communicate with Jensen, even traveling New Jersey in December 2018 to live with Jensen. On Dec.19, 2018, local authorities removed the victim from Jensen’s residence.

The charge of knowingly receiving child pornography carries a minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 20 years in prison, and a statutory maximum fine equal to the greatest of $250,000, or twice the gross amount of any pecuniary gain or loss, whichever is greater.

Sentencing is scheduled for September 14, 2021.