A 32-year-old Woodbridge man described by authorities as a high school teacher was arrested at his home in the Fords section on Friday, charged with distributing and possessing child sexual abuse material. Joseph Severini was taken into custody without incident, according to officials, following an investigation that began with a cyber tip from New Jersey State Police.
Severini was charged with second-degree distribution of child sexual abuse material and third-degree possession of child sexual abuse material, according to Daily Voice. The charges stem from a referral that landed with the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office, which received the cyber tip from state police before launching its own inquiry. TAPinto Woodbridge/Carteret reports that Middlesex County Prosecutor Linda Estremera and Woodbridge Township Police Director Joseph Nisky said authorities had charged a local man with alleged possession and distribution of sexually explicit images of children.
Detective Led Internet Crimes Probe
Detective Stenly Vertus of the prosecutor's Internet Crimes Against Children Unit conducted the investigation that led to Severini's arrest, the same report notes. County detectives and police searched Severini's Fords home on Friday to gather evidence, per TAPinto's account. Authorities identified Severini as a high school teacher but did not disclose where he works, the station's report states.
Authorities also did not say how old the minors in the alleged photos or videos were, according to Patch. No further details about the alleged material have been made public.
Investigation Remains Active
Officials said the investigation remains active, and they are asking anyone with additional information to come forward. Those with information are urged to contact Detective Vertus at 732-745-8391.
The arrest comes amid what the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General has described as a marked national increase over the past several years in tips reporting suspected predatory activity online. Those tips are investigated by the ICAC Task Force led by New Jersey State Police. The New Jersey State Police says its Internet Crimes Against Children Unit conducts both proactive and reactive investigations into child endangerment, with cases most often involving child sexual abuse material or the luring of a child.
