Former New Jersey Boy Scout camp employee admits to child pornography

William Mickel, a 71-year-old resident of Lake Hopatcong and a registered Morris County Republican, has pleaded guilty to charges of possessing and distributing child pornography.

Mickel, who was formerly employed by Boy Scout camps in New Jersey, admitted to using email accounts to distribute images and videos of child sexual abuse and stored hundreds of such materials on electronic devices in his home.

U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced that Mickel entered a guilty plea in the Trenton federal court before U.S. District Judge Georgette Castner, facing an indictment for distribution and possession of child pornography.

According to court documents and statements made during the proceedings, from February 2022 through April 2022, Mickel distributed and possessed images and videos of child sexual abuse while employed at the Boy Scout camps.

Some of these videos were secretly recorded and depicted children using bathrooms at the camps.

Mickel used email accounts to distribute the materials and stored hundreds of images and videos on electronic devices in his home.

The count of distribution of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum of 20 years, along with a fine of up to $250,000. The possession charge also carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for October 3, 2024.

Sellinger recognized the efforts of the FBI special agents under the leadership of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office directed by Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, and the Chester Police Department guided by Chief Ryan T. McNamee for their contributions to the investigation that led to the guilty plea.

The count of distribution of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000.

The count of possession of child pornography carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 3, 2024.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Fatime Meka Cano of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.

The government has indicated that it will seek the forfeiture of all property related to the offenses, including any visual depictions of child sexual abuse and any property used to commit these offenses.