Authorities received a tip in January 2021 about possible child pornography files on an external hard drive belonging to Brooks, prosecutors said. Detectives obtained court authorised search warrants, seizing multiple phones, computers, cameras, tablets and storage devices, authorities said. — Unsplash
A former elementary school teacher admitted in court that he posed as a woman online to trick minors into sending him sexual images and videos, US Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said.
Steven Brooks, 36, of Morristown, who also helped run a youth soccer club, pleaded guilty to production and possession of child pornography before US District Judge John Michael Vazquez, officials said.
Authorities received a tip in January 2021 about possible child pornography files on an external hard drive belonging to Brooks, prosecutors said. Detectives obtained court authorised search warrants, seizing multiple phones, computers, cameras, tablets and storage devices, authorities said.
Investigators then learned that the former teacher posed as a female on social media and used the fake persona to solicit child pornography files from more than 70 victims, officials said.
The US Attorney’s Office did not say where Brooks worked as a teacher.
His sentencing is scheduled for Sept 21. – nj.com/Tribune News Service
