Lodi Man Distributed 1,000 Child Sex Abuse Images: Bergen County Prosecutor

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A week after a 55-year-old Lodi man was charged with distributing child sex abuse material, prosecutors announced upgraded charges.

Paul D. McErlean was initially arrested on March 27 for second-degree distribution of child pornography, and third-degree possession of child pornography, said the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office.

After further investigation, they announced upgraded charges this past Thursday.

McErlean was charged last Wednesday with first-degree distribution of child pornography and second-degree possession of child pornography, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said that an investigation initially determined that he "used the internet to view, download, possess, distribute and share items depicting nude and/or sexually explicit pubescent and prepubescent children."

After his arrest, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Digital
Forensics Lab identified additional evidence, investigators said.

Detectives determined that McErlean he distributed more than 1,000 images of the abuse, prosecutors said.

McErlean was taken to the Bergen County Jail to await further court action.