Cops: Toms River Man Had Hundreds of Child Porn Images on Computer

Michael J. Peluso, 44, of Toms River.

A Toms River man was arrested Friday and charged with possessing and distributing hundreds of images of child pornography on his home computer.

Michael J. Peluso, 44, was charged after authorities executed a search warrant Friday morning at his South Street home, according to a statement from Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.

Peluso was discovered to be in possession of several hundred child porn images after a detective at the Glendale Heights Police Department in Illinois was conducting a proactive investigation for child pornography distribution on the Internet in December, authorities said. The detective discovered a client who was using software to mask their IP address to appear as though they were in Illinois, but an investigation revealed that the computer was actually located in Toms River.

---

Get Brick News Updates Daily Your email address:* Please enter all required fields Correct invalid entries

The case was then referred to the Ocean County Prosecutors’ Office High Tech Crime Unit as part of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the statement said. Ocean County HTCU detectives continued the investigation which culminated in the search this morning.

As a result of the search, which turned up the images, Peluso was arrested and charged with possession and distribution of child pornography. Bail was set at $75,000 cash by Superior Court Judge Francis R. Hodgson Jr.