FRANKLIN, NJ — A 24-year-old man was arrested following a joint investigation into child sexual abuse material.
Ryan J. Smith, of Franklin, was arrested on Sept. 18 following the execution of a search warrant by the Franklin Borough Police Department in partnership with the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office.
Smith had been the subject of an ongoing investigation led by Detective Sergeant David Schneider and Detective Zachary LaGrave after information was received indicating he was in possession of child sexual assault material depicting minors.
The Franklin Borough Police Department Detective Bureau was assisted in the warrant execution by the Hardyston Township Police Department, Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office, New Jersey State Police, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Secret Service.
As a result of the search, investigators determined that Smith was involved in the solicitation, creation, and distribution of child sexual abuse material, with victims located in New Jersey and other parts of the United States.
Smith has been charged with possession of images of sexually exploited children, storing images of sexually exploited children on a file-sharing program, reconstructing images of children engaged in sexual acts, and possession of items depicting sexually exploited children with intent to distribute, all second-degree crimes.
He was also charged with conspiracy to share or distribute images of child exploitation as an organizer or administrator of a network, a third-degree crime, and destruction of evidence, a fourth-degree crime.
During the investigation, Officer Jake Rotunda and members of the New Jersey State Police also arrested Devina Biddulph, 61, of Franklin, for obstruction of the administration of law and resisting arrest, both fourth-degree crimes.
Biddulph’s charges stem from her interference with the investigation, including threatening officers on scene and unlawfully entering an ambulance present at the scene during the execution of the search warrant at Smith’s residence.
She was issued a summons and released pending her appearance in Sussex County Superior Court.
Smith was lodged at the Morris County Correctional Facility pending his first appearance before Sussex County Superior Court, in accordance with the New Jersey Bail Reform Act.
