Three Arrested In Manchester, Brick, Lakewood Child Porn Sweep

The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office has arrested three area men on charges of possession and distribution of child pornography.

The arrests are the conclusion of a “Cyber Child Pornography Drag Net” cast by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s High Tech Crime Unit (HTCU) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with help from local law enforcement partners, Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato said.

• The first arrest was made on March 21, when members of the Ocean County HTCU, HSI and Lakewood Police executed a search warrant at 1488 East Spruce Street in Lakewood. The search was a culmination of an investigation over a 12-month period.

• Antonio Hidrogo, 39, Lakewood, is alleged to have been utilizing unsecured wireless access points in his neighborhood to access and download graphic movie files depicting pre-pubescent children being sexually assaulted. Detectives also executed a search at a storage unit rented by Hidrogo and seized more digital evidence.

Hidrogo was charged by the High Tech Crime Unit detectives with one count of second degree distribution of child pornography and one count of third degree possession of child pornography. Superior Court Judge Francis R. Hodgson, Jr. set Hidrogo's fail at $100,000 cash. He is forbidden from any unsupervised contact with children and must surrender his passport. Hidrogo is a citizen of Peru and is a legal United States green card holder

• The second search and arrest took place at 395 North Lake Drive in Brick. The search stemmed from an online investigation conducted by Ocean County HTCU detectives into the distribution of child pornography on the internet.

• Dennis R. Hubert, 32, was charged with one count of third degree possession of child pornography, one count of second degree distribution of child pornography and possession of marijuana under 50 grams.on.

A forensic preview of the computers on the scene revealed several hundred graphic movie files containing images of pre-teen children engaged in sexual acts. Hodgson set Hubert's bail at $75,000 cash. He is to have no unsupervised contact with children if bail is made.

• The third search and arrest was conducted by the HTCU, HSI, the Ocean County Sheriff's Department K-9 Unit and the Ocean County Regional SWAT team at 711 Gladstone Street in Manchester on April 10.

• Michael Garon, 25, Manchester, was charged with one count of third degree possession of child pornography, one count of second degree distribution of child pornography, one count of third degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance, one count of fourth degree unlawful possession of a weapon with a high capacity magazine, and one count of fourth degree unlawful possession of a weapon (tear gas.) Hodson set his bail at $75,000, with no ten percent option. He is to have no unsupervised contact with children and no internet use.

Authorities seized computers, two AR-15 Bush Master rifles (which will be subject to forfeiture), two high capacity magazines, ammunition, steroids, syringes, a bottle containing oxycodone with no prescription, and one canister of tear gas at Garon's residence. The New Jersey State Police Arson/Bomb Unit responded to assure a replica grenade was inert and posed no danger.