NJ Chief Pleads to Child Pornography Charges

A New Jersey fire chief who was arrested in 2015 for sharing child pornography over fire department computers, has pled guilty.

Former Audubon Park Volunteer Fire Company fire chief John Terruso pled guilty yesterday to state charges of second-degree distribution of child pornography and third-degree possession child pornography.

According to the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, Terruso was caught by investigators who were monitoring a file-sharing network for child pornography. More than 1,000 files of suspected child pornography were found on four laptop computers and electronic devices.

Terruso will be sentenced in August. Under the plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend he serve six years in prison. The final decision will rest with the judge. Terruso will be a registered sex offender.

More on the story.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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