Brick Man Admits Having Child Pornography

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Brick Township man has pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography in connection with his arrest in July, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said.

Robert Lasher, 71, pleaded guilty Wednesday before Superior Court Judge Linda G. Baxter to one count of possession of child pornography, the prosecutor's office said.

His sentencing date has not been set, but a 364-day sentence will be the recommendation from prosecutors, officials said, along with parole supervision for life.

Authorities investigating a cyber tip from the New Jersey State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about a person uploading child pornography images traced the activity to an IP address in Brick.

Investigators then identified the person responsible as Lasher, the prosecutor's office said.

Lasher was arrested July 2 when authorities searched his home and found several items of child pornography on his electronic devices, the prosecutor's office. He was taken to the Ocean County Jail and later released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform, the prosecutor's office said.

Authorities did not say how many images were found on Lasher's electronics after their investigation.