Long Branch, Eatontown Men Charged In Child Porn Sweep

LONG BRANCH, NJ — Long Branch and Eatontown men were arrested as part of a county-wide online child porn bust done this year by the office of Monmouth County Prosecutor Chris Gramiccioni.

Between July 21 and October 15 this year the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office Computer Crimes Unit and Monmouth County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force arrested fifteen people in Monmouth County.

People were arrested in Eatontown, Howell Township, Long Branch, Manalapan, Marlboro, Neptune Twp., Spring Lake, Tinton Falls, and Holmdel, Asbury Park, Aberdeen, Middletown, Highlands, Freehold Township and Freehold Borough.

Anthony Lichtenau, 36, of Eatontown was arrested on July 24, 2020; police say he was in possession of child sexual abuse materials. Lichtenau was charged with one count of third-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material), contrary to 2C:24-4b(5)(b)(iii) and released on the condition that he have no contact with anyone under 18 and no internet access.

Valentin Valdetano, 20, of Long Branch, was arrested on July 31, 2020; police say he possessed and traded images of child sexual abuse materials using a chat platform. Valdetano was charged with second-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Materials), contrary to N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(a)(i) and third-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Materials), contrary to N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)(iii). Valdetano was released on the condition that he have no contact with anyone under 18 and that he not use the Internet.