Former Youth Camp Leader Charged with Transportation and Possession of Child Pornography
| U.S. Attorney’s Office April 21, 2010 |
TRENTON, NJ—A Toms River, New Jersey man who ran a private military academy for youths was arrested today on charges related to his alleged possession and transportation of child pornography over the Internet, United States Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Steven T. Baryla, 28, is charged by indictment with two counts of transporting and three counts of possessing child pornography. Baryla made an initial appearance on the charges this morning before United States Magistrate Judge Douglas Arpert in Trenton, who granted the defendant’s release on a $100,000 bond, subject to electronic monitoring.
The indictment alleges that in June 2009, Baryla transported and possessed images of child pornography while serving as the president of the Cedar Bridge Military Academy in Toms River, which was a private non-profit organization that served youths interested in military-style training.
Each of the two transportation charges carry a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Each of the three possession charges carry a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
In determining an actual sentence, the judge to whom the case is assigned would, upon a conviction, consult the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide appropriate sentencing ranges that take into account the severity and characteristics of the offense, the defendant's criminal history, if any, and other factors. The judge, however, is not bound by those guidelines in determining a sentence. Parole has been abolished in the federal system. Defendants who are given custodial terms must serve nearly all that time.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI’s Franklin Township Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward, the Beachwood Police Department, and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office with the investigation leading to the indictment.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney James T. Kitchen of the Criminal Division in Trenton.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Defense Counsel: Brian Reilly, Assistant Federal Public Defender – for the purposes of today’s appearance