NJ man admits to streaming child porn online

Authorities say a 43-year-old Union Beach man pleaded guilty Monday to distributing child pornography.

Joseph Gentile pleaded guilty in front of Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Ronald Lee Reisner to one count of second degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Distribution of Child Pornography), according to Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni, who said it was part of a plea agreement.

"In pleading guilty, Gentile admitted he streamed a video over the Internet depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of child," the prosecutor said in a press release.

As part of the agreement, Gentile could face a three-year sentence in a New Jersey State prison and also be subject to the provisions of Megan's Law when he is released, the prosecutor said.

"As part of his plea agreement with this office, it will be recommended the endangering the welfare of a child charge be treated as a third degree crime for sentencing purposes,"  Gramiccioni said.

Authorities said Gentile was arrested in March 2015 after authorities followed up on a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Members of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Computer Crimes Unit learned that Gentile "was streaming a video of child pornography on Nov. 23, 2014, over the Omegle network, an online video chat service."

According to authorities, Gentile is scheduled to return for sentencing on May 6.

Toniann Antonelli is the digital managing editor for news at NJ 101.5. Reach her at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.