Released NJ sex offender tried covering his tracks after new offenses, cops say
⚠️ An Old Bridge man convicted in a federal child pornography case in 2015 faces new charges.
➡️ Investigators traced illegal videos on a peer-to-peer network to his residence in May.
🔴 Police say forensic evidence showed recent downloads and online activity before his arrest.
A 58-year-old Middlesex County man previously convicted of possession of child pornography faces new charges.
Michael Shaw, of Old Bridge, is registered with the state as a tier 2 sex offender after a federal conviction in 2015.
Investigators traced illegal files to an Old Bridge residence
In May, investigators traced illegal, disturbing videos on a peer-to-peer file sharing program to Shaw's residence.
When arrested on June 12, Shaw admitted to viewing child sexual abuse videos — and deleting the files after, according to an affidavit filed by investigators.
Shaw is charged with second-degree counts of maintaining a child sex abuse material peer-to-peer file-sharing network, distribution of child sexual abuse material, and possession of child sexual abuse material with the intent to distribute.
He is also charged with third-degree possession of child sexual abuse material.
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Police say forensic review found recent downloads, deleted software
An early look at Shaw’s laptop by police forensic experts showed Shaw deleted the peer-to-peer program on June 8 after 24 recent file downloads between May 12 and that same day.
Analysts found that hours before his arrest, Shaw used a Russian website around 4 a.m. to view child sex abuse materials.
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