Wallington Man Gets Prison for Watching Webcams of Child Sexual Abuse
Wallington Suspect in Child Pornography Case Sentenced to Prison
A Wallington man is headed to federal prison for watching live webcam shows of child sexual abuse. The defendant in the case was Stephen Hallet, a 67-year-old man from Wallington in Bergen County, New Jersey. Hallet was charged with receipt of child pornography after law enforcement arrested him for purchasing online streams of underage children engaged in sexual conduct. According to prosecutors, Hallet went online between 2013 and 2015 and bought access to the illegal webcam shows.
Agents with the Newark division of Homeland Security Investigations (HIS) and U.S. Immigration and the Customs Enforcement (ICE) worked together on the investigation into the allegations. Investigators ultimately gathered enough evidence for federal prosecutors to bring criminal charges.
Plea Deal and Sentence in Child Pornography Case: 63 Months in Prison for Man from Wallington, NJ
While Hallet awaited resolution of his case in U.S. District Court in Newark, NJ, he was allowed to remain free on a $125,000 unsecured bond. Eventually, Hallet reached a deal with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and pleaded guilty to the sex crime charges. He later appeared in court and admitted to purchasing the child sex abuse videos from people located in the Philippines.
Now Hallet has been officially sentenced in the sex offense case. Although he could have been sentenced to as many as 20 years in prison, Hallet received a sentence of 63 months behind bars. U.S. District Court Judge Kevin McNulty approved the plea agreement and issued the sentence. In addition to being sentenced to prison time, Hallet will also have to register as a convicted sex offender after he completes his sentence and is released from prison. Beyond that, he will be subject to five years of supervised release.
Free Consultation with Criminal Defense Lawyer in Wallington, New Jersey
Do you face criminal charges for endangering the welfare of a child, sexual assault, or criminal sexual contact in Wallington, NJ? Then you should speak with New Jersey criminal defense attorney Travis J. Tormey today.