Mercer Youth Counselor Shared Child Sex Abuse Material: Prosecutor

MERCER COUNTY, NJ – A Mercer County man has been charged for distributing child sex abuse material, acting Mercer County Prosecutor Theresa L. Hilton said Thursday.

The charges come after an investigation into online child exploitation.

Gerald Keener, 18, was charged with one count of second-degree distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), one count of second-degree possession with the intent to distribute CSAM and one count of third-degree possession of CSAM.

The prosecutor’s office has filed a motion to detain Keener pending trial.

Detectives with the prosecutor’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit recently received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that a person in Mercer County was distributing items that portrayed the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child. An investigation was initiated and Keener was identified as a subject, Hilton said.

On Wednesday, members of ICAC Unit, with assistance from the Hamilton Police SWAT Team, executed a search warrant at Keener’s Hamilton home, where detectives seized several items.

Keener was taken into custody without incident.

Following his arrest, authorities learned that he is employed by the Hamilton YMCA as a counselor.

Second-degree crimes carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000. Third-degree crimes carry a sentence of three to five years in state prison and a fine of up to $15,000.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the prosecutor’s Special Victims Unit at (609) 989-6568 or mcposvu@mercercounty.org.

Acting Prosecutor Hilton urged anyone with information about suspected improper contact by unknown persons communicating with children via the internet or possible exploitation or sexual abuse of children to please contact his Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit at (609) 989-6568 or the New Jersey Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force tip line at (888) 648-6007.