Teen Accused Of Leading Child Porn Network In Morristown: MCPO

MORRISTOWN, NJ — A 19-year-old Morristown teen who was charged in December with sexually assaulting four girls aged 14 to 18 has now been accused of running a child pornography network, according to the Morris County Prosecutor's Office.

Ruben Gonzalez, 19, of Morristown, was charged with the following, officials said:

• One count leader of a child pornography network
• One count of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child
• One count of second-degree possession of child pornography with intent to distribute
• One count of second-degree distribution of child sexual abuse material
• Eight counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child
• Eleven counts of third-degree invasion of privacy and
• Three counts of third-degree computer criminal activity

Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll announced Friday in a joint statement with Morristown Police Chief Darnell Richardson that Gonzalez was arrested on Monday based on evidence discovered on his cell phone.

Gonzalez allegedly "conspired with others to lead a child pornography network, using the Telegram application to communicate and coordinate the distribution of child sexual abuse material" between Dec. 2, 2020, and Nov. 5, 2021, according to Carroll.

It is also claimed that Gonzalez used his cell phone's "Screen Record" feature to secretly record and save the sexual activity of the victims without their knowledge or consent.

Some of the victims were minors, Carroll said.

Read more: Morristown Man Sexually Assaulted Several Kids, Teens: Prosecutor

Gonzalez is being held at the Morris County Jail on the charges listed above, as well as three Morris County indictments charging him with aggravated sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child, criminal sexual contact and invasion of privacy, according to authorities.

According to the Morris County Prosecutor's Office, Gonzalez was first charged in December 2021 in connection with the sexual assault of several teens in Morristown and Morris Township. The victims' ages ranged from 14 to 18, according to authorities.

The case was investigated by the Morristown Police Department and the Prosecutor's Internet Crimes Against Children Unit.