TOMS RIVER — A Brick Township man has been sentenced to five years in state prison after admitting he distributed child sexual abuse material online, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced.
Christian Kohl, 48, received the sentence Friday from Superior Court Judge Guy P. Ryan. Kohl must serve the entire five-year term before becoming eligible for parole. He will also be subject to Megan’s Law requirements and parole supervision for life.
Kohl pleaded guilty March 25 to distribution of child sexual abuse material.
The investigation began after the New Jersey State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received cyber tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children concerning the online transmission of illegal images.
Investigators with the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit traced internet activity to a Brick Township home.
Authorities said an undercover detective using the Kik messaging service communicated with Kohl between May and August 2024 while posing as a 14-year-old girl. Kohl, who identified himself during the conversations as a 38-year-old man, allegedly continued sending sexually explicit photos and videos of himself despite repeatedly being told the undercover persona was 14.
Investigators later identified Kohl as the person behind the account.
On Aug. 15, 2024, detectives from Ocean County, Homeland Security Investigations, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and Brick Township police searched Kohl’s home under a court-authorized warrant.
A forensic review of his cellphone uncovered multiple files containing child sexual abuse material, prosecutors said. Further investigation determined Kohl had distributed more than 25 such files to other Kik users.
Kohl was arrested at his home and taken to the Ocean County Jail before later being released under New Jersey’s bail reform system.
Billhimer credited Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Shanon Chant-Berry and Assistant Prosecutor Lynn Juan with prosecuting the case and thanked the participating local, county, state and federal agencies.
The post Brick Man Gets 5 Years For Sharing Child Sexual Abuse Material appeared first on Jersey Shore Online.
