Ward-Jones was arrested on June 22, 2016, following an investigation conducted by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and the New Jersey State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The investigation focused on individuals using file sharing programs to distribute files depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of children. Officers executed a search warrant at Jones-Ward’s home and seized several devices which were later confirmed to contain numerous files of that nature.

On July 26, 2017, Jones-Ward pled guilty to one count of endangering the welfare of a child for sharing and/or making available, more than 25 files depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of children using peer-to-peer software. Under the terms of the plea agreement, in addition to the prison time, he will be placed on lifetime parole supervision and must register as a sex offender under Megan’s Law.

“There are children in this country, in fact all over the world, who are subjected to horrific sexual abuse because of people like this defendant who create a market for the trafficking of child pornography,’’ said Assistant Prosecutor Kathleen Lyons-Boswick, who handled the case.

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Laurino commended Assistant Prosecutor Deborah Freier and Detective Thomas Chung of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit, the New Jersey State Police Digital Technology Investigation Unit/Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Irvington Police Department for assisting with the investigation and prosecution of this case.