Little Egg Harbor Zoning Board Member Charged With Possession Of Child Pornography

by Patricia A. Miller

The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office has charged the vice chairman of the Little Egg Harbor Township zoning board with possession of child pornography, after hundreds of images of adults having sex with children were found on his computer,

Issat Farat, aka Joseph, 84, was arrested by members of the Prosecutor’s Office’s High Tech Crime Unit and Little Egg Harbor police on Sept. 2 at his Kansas Road home, spokesman Al Della Fave said.

The arrest is the result of an investigation by Stafford Township Police Patrolman Joseph Luna and Detective Drew Smith, with assistance from the High Tech Crimes Unit and Little Egg police.

Authorities executed a search warrant on Wednesday. A forensic preview of a computer seized in the home showed several hundred images of adults engaged in sexual acts with pre-pubescent children. The High Tech Crimes Unit also took several other items from the home, Della Fave said.

Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Hillary Bryce approved the charge of third degree possession of child pornography signed by Patrolman Luna based on the recovered evidence. Ocean County Superior Court Judge Damien Murray set Farat’s bail at $50,000 cash. He was taken to the Ocean County Jail in Toms River in lieu of bail, Della Fave said.