2 Southington Men Charged With Child Porn Possession: Police

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Two local men have been charged with possession of child pornography following the recent conclusion of two separate investigations last month.

According to the Southington Police Department, the two suspects are Oliver Stephen Kochol, 30, and Thomas Morse Jr., 46, both of Southington.

The two men, police said, were each charged with first-degree possession of child sexual abuse material. Both were taken into custody last month on separate $250,000 bonds.

Morse Jr. was held on and presented in New Britain Superior Court on Monday, June 30. Kochol was also held and presented in New Britain Superior Court.

According to online court records, Morse Jr. is still in custody and will next appear in New Britain Superior Court on July 15.

Kochol, meanwhile, is out on $250,000 bond and will next appear in New Britain Superior Court on July 15.

Police on Thursday, July 10, said both arrests stem from investigations that began last April, when the SPD conducted two separate investigations into the possession and distribution of child sex abuse material.

The investigations were prompted by complaints received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), police said.

Southington detectives are part of a statewide task force that identifies suspects who produce, distribute, receive, and possess child sexual abuse material.

The first investigation into a cyber-tip identified videos and images depicting child sexual abuse material, commonly referred to as child pornography.

This investigation led to SPD detectives, along with the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, executing search warrants in Jersey City, N.J., and Southington.

As a result of the tip and subsequent investigation, Kochol was arrested on June 6, police said.

According to the SPD, the second investigation started with a cyber tip through NCMEC being referred to the Southington Police Department.

On April 10, the SPD, along with investigators from the Department of Homeland Security, executed a search warrant for a residence in Southington.

The investigation into the cyber-tip identified reported media depicting child porn.

As a result of the tip and subsequent investigation, Morse Jr. was arrested on June 27.

"The Southington Police Department would like to thank investigators from the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office and investigators from the Department of Homeland Security for their assistance with both of these investigations," wrote the SPD in a statement released Thursday.