Hillsdale Man Arrested in Statewide Child Porn Bust

A Hillsdale resident was one of 24 men and one juvenile arrested in a statewide child porn bust, Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa announced Wednesday.

David Laidlaw, 36, was charged with second degree distribution of child pornography and fourth degree possession of child pornography. 

The files allegedly distributed among those arrested "show pre-pubescent boys and girls being sexually molested by being penetrated, or by being coerced into performing sexual acts on themselves, or others," according to the Attorney General's Office.

“Anyone who views and distributes child pornography — particularly the type of child rape videos targeted in this operation — puts himself in league with the predators who sexually assault children to create these videos,” Chiesa said in a press release. “The children they watch being tortured are violated again by their actions, and these offenders may pose a danger to other children because of their predilections. We will remain ever vigilant to stop this predatory behavior against children.”

The 25 arrests were made as a part of "Operation Ever Vigilant," in which the State Police Digital Technology Investigations Unit worked with other state and local law enforcement agencies in the New Jersey Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

The videos were allegedly distributed via email and file sharing networks. 

Colonel Rick Fuentes, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police said that police would continue to target those who watch or share child porn.

“Everyone sitting in the seclusion of their darkened homes viewing child rape videos has victimized these innocents by creating the market for this disgusting material. There’s no room for them to say, ‘I haven’t hurt anyone,’” Fuentes said. “With our partners, we will continue to uncover this behavior, and arrest all those involved.”

Four other Bergen County men, including Louis Cedeno of Palisades Park, Ernest Okhtenberg of Fair Lawn, Joseph Lorz of Bergenfield and Jose Oswaldo of Fairview were also arrested as part of the operation.

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