Cherry Hill Man Admits To Child Pornography Possession

CHERRY HILL, NJ — A Cherry Hill man who was previously convicted of child exploitation has admitted possessing child pornography, U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.

James Tierney, 56, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography, authorities said.

In August 2020, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reported that an online cloud account used at Tierney’s home had uploaded images of child sex abuse, according to documents filed in the case and statements made in court.

Law enforcement agents launched an investigation that concluded with a search warrant being executed at Tierney’s home, authorities said.

During the search, detectives said they found multiple videos and images of child sexual abuse on Tierney’s cell phone, which they recovered.

Tierney admitted to agents that he used the cell phone and cloud account for possessing images of child sexual abuse.

Tierney has a prior New Jersey state conviction for endangering the welfare of a child/distribution of child pornography, stemming from a 2015 investigation in Cape May County. Read more here: Child Pornography Investigation Nets Three Suspects in Cape May County

Tierney now faces between 10 and 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for April 12.

Honig credited special agents of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, Cherry Hill Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jason J. Molina in Newark; the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crimes Unit, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Grace C. MacAulay; and the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Superintendent Patrick J. Callahan, with the investigation leading to Thursday’s guilty plea.