TRENTON, N.J. – A damning indictment has hit the Boy Scouts of America. William Mickel, 70, of Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Georgette Castner in Trenton federal court to an indictment charging him with one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
According to court documents, Mickel, who was employed by Boy Scout camps in New Jersey from February 2022 through April 2022, distributed and possessed images and videos of child sexual abuse. The depraved individual used email accounts to distribute these materials, and stored hundreds of images and videos on electronic devices in his home.
Some of the videos in Mickel’s possession depicted children who were surreptitiously recorded using bathrooms in the Boy Scout camps where Mickel worked. This is a heinous and egregious breach of trust, and it’s an outrage that this individual was in a position to harm children.
Mickel’s guilty plea comes with severe consequences. The count of distribution of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000. The count of possession of child pornography carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 3, 2024. U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Chester Police Department with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.
This case serves as a stark reminder that those who prey on and exploit children will be brought to justice. The Grimy Times will continue to shed light on these heinous crimes and hold perpetrators accountable.
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Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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