School Bus Driver, Manalapan Resident, Had Child Porn: Prosecutor

FREEHOLD, NJ — A Manalapan man who recently started a job as a school bus driver in Jackson has been arrested, charged with possession and distribution of child sexual abuse materials, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago said Thursday.

Brian R. McBride, 28, was charged on Oct. 25 with one count of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, distribution of child sexual abuse materials and one count of third-degree possession of child sexual abuse materials, possession of child sexual abuse materials, according to the prosecutor's office.

An investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office High-Tech Bureau and members of the Monmouth County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force was initiated by a tip received through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.

The investigation showed that McBride was in possession of child sexual abuse materials and distributing them by social media, according to the prosecutor's office.

The Jackson school district said it alerted parents to the arrest in a communication Oct. 26:

It noted that the alleged offenses "did not occur on school property and did not involve any Jackson School District students. In accordance with state law, the employee has been suspended with pay during the investigation. The employee will not be permitted on school property. This is a police matter, which means the district is not at liberty to discuss it further."

The district said all district employees undergo a criminal history background check before they begin employment in the district to ensure they are free of any criminal record. "The district is alerted of any criminal charges. Those procedures were followed in this case as well."

Convictions of this nature are commonly punishable by terms of up to 10 years in state prison, the prosecutor said, along with being subject to the provisions of Megan’s Law registration and parole supervision for life.

The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Joseph Competello. McBride is represented by Mitchell Ansell, Ocean Township.