Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, Morris County Chief of Detectives Robert McNally, Morris Township Police Chief Robert Shearer and Morristown Police Chief Darnell Richardson announce that Ruben Gonzalez, age 20, formerly of Morristown, New Jersey has been sentenced to 20 years in New Jersey State Prison.
On April 12, 2023, Gonzalez entered guilty pleas to nine counts of second degree Sexual Assault in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2c(1), one count of second degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(5)(b)(ii), one count of second degree Leader of a Child Pornography Network in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4.1a, and 25 counts of third degree Invasion of Privacy in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:14-9b(1).
On September 29, 2023, the Honorable Judge Ralph E. Amirata, J.S.C. sentenced Gonzalez to an aggregate sentence of twenty (20) years New Jersey State Prison subject to ten (10) years of parole ineligibility. Gonzalez is required to serve 85% of his sentence on the Sexual Assault charges pursuant to the No Early Release Act. Gonzalez will also be required to register under Megan’s Law upon release and is subject to Parole Supervision for Life.
The investigation began with several reports of sexual assaults committed by the defendant. Following an examination of the defendant’s phone, it was determined that on or between December 2, 2020 and November 5, 2021, the defendant conspired with others to lead a child pornography network, using the Telegram application to communicate and coordinate the distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The defendant also used the “Screen Record” option on his cell phone to secretly record and save sexual activity of the victims without their knowledge or consent. Some of the victims of the defendant’s conduct were minors.
Prosecutor Carroll would like to acknowledge the Morris Township Police Department; the Morristown Police Department and Detective Scott Weaver; the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Unit (ICAC), Assistant Prosecutor Michael McDonald, and Detective Melissa Enslen; the Northern California Regional Intelligence Center and Special Investigator Jason Hutchinson; and the Middle Atlantic-Great Lakes Organized Crime Law Enforcement Network (MAGLOCLEN), for their collective efforts in this investigation and prosecution.
