BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A Bergen County man is alleged to have told kids to undress and touch themselves sexually in live video chats with him, according to authorities.
Edward Torres, 23, of North Arlington, was arrested Thursday on multiple child porn charges largely in connection with online sexual chats he had with minors, a police complaint said.
Torres stands accused of asking juveniles to expose their naked bodies to him on camera in exchange for payment, and then screen-recording many of the interactions on his personal device(s), police and prosecutors said.
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He would ask them to touch and at times “inflict laceration wounds” on their bodies; one kid was even taken to a medical facility for injuries sustained in interactions with the North Arlington man, police reports said.
During the search of his home, Torres had also tried to “secrete or destroy” associated evidence by hiding his phone in a laundry basket or by purposely entering incorrect passcodes on the device to prevent access, an affidavit said.
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He was charged with six related offenses, including production, possession and distribution of child porn; debauching the morals of and endangering the welfare of a child; and hindering apprehension of one’s self, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said.
He was then remanded to the Bergen County Jail, pending an initial court appearance, Musella said.
An investigation is still ongoing. Prosecutors ask that any parent or guardian, who determines that their child received inappropriate communications from @defaultfartface or @RubyWizard11093#0755 on social media, contact 201-226-5532.
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