Hudson County Teacher Charged with Distributing Images of Child Sexual Abuse Over the Internet

NEWARK—A permanent substitute teacher at a private school in Jersey City was arrested today after law enforcement officers discovered alleged child pornography on a computer at his residence, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Guy West, 44, of Jersey City, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with one count of distributing images of child sex abuse over the Internet. West will make his initial court appearance tomorrow before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patty Shwartz in Newark federal court.

According to the criminal complaint;

On December 18, 2012, West distributed videos and images depicting child sexual abuse on the Internet via peer-to-peer file sharing software to which others had access in shared directories. Special agents of the FBI executed a search warrant today at West’s residence, seizing digital evidence that contained numerous images depicting child sexual abuse, including material that involved prepubescent minors and material that portrays sadistic or masochistic conduct. The digital evidence seized included three files previously downloaded from West by law enforcement agents working in an undercover capacity on the peer-to-peer network.

On the child pornography distribution count, West faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 20 years, and a $250,000 fine.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge David Velazquez in Newark, the Jersey City Police Department and the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office with the investigation leading to today’s arrest.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Alfonzo Walsman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office General Crimes Unit in Newark.