MAYS LANDING – An Atlantic City man was sentenced to 12 years in prison for Endangering the Welfare of a Child, in connection to internet pornography investigation conducted last year, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner announced.
A joint investigation begun in January 2016 by law enforcement in Texas and the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Computer Crimes Unit resulted in the arrest on February 4, 2016 of Sherman W. Miller, now 50-years-old, of Oceanic Terrace, Atlantic City.
Miller, a Tier 2 registered sex offender, was charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Child under the age of 18, Obscenity, Failing to Register as a Sex Offender, and Failure to Notify as a Sex Offender a Change of Address. The State alleged that Miller sent sexually explicit images electronically from New Jersey to the juvenile victim in Texas.
The arrest was made at Miller’s home by Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office detectives, without incident. Detectives processed Miller for the arrest and lodged him in the Atlantic County Justice Facility on $50,000 cash / no 10% bail set by Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Patricia M. Wild. Miller has remained in custody since his arrest.
Continued investigation by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Computer Crimes Unit resulted in the detection of additional crimes and the identification of more child victims in 7 other States: Michigan, Georgia, Massachusetts, California, Missouri, South Carolina, and Mississippi.
On January 4, 2017, an Atlantic County Grand Jury indicted Miller for:
- Endangering the Welfare of a Child by Causing the Child to Engage in Pornography—a crime of the 1st degree,
- The Possession or Viewing of a Pornographic Image Depicting the Sexual Exploitation or Abuse of a Child—a 3rd degree crime,
- (7) counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child by Engaging in Sexual Conduct with children—3rd degree crimes,
- Obscenity for Persons Under the Age of 18, for knowingly showing obscene material to various persons juveniles—3rd degree,
- Failing to Register as a Sex Offender, 3rd degree, and
- Failing, as a Registered Sex Offender, to Register a Change of Address with 10 days of that change—a crime of the 3rd degree.
The State alleged that Miller transmitted still photographs of his penis to the victims, then sent the victims video of him masturbating. The State further alleged that Miller induced one victim to send images back; that action resulted in the 1st degree indictment for causing the child to engage in pornography. The age-range of the 8 victims was 9 to 14 years.
On February 28, 2017, Sherman W. Miller pled guilty to 1st degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child before Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Patricia M. Wild. Miller admitted in court that he induced the child to create sexually explicit video and transmit them to him electronically over the internet.
Today, Friday, May 12, 2017, Judge Wild sentenced Miller to serve 12 years in New Jersey State prison. Pursuant to the No Early Release Act (NERA) Miller must serve 85% of the sentence— 10 years, 2 months, and 12 days—before becoming eligible for parole. Further, Judge Wild ordered that Miller be subject to Parole Supervision for Life after release from prison, and Megan’s Law registration
Assistant Prosecutor Danielle Buckley, who represented the State in the matter, said, “While social media certainly has its advantages, this case illustrates the dangers lurking behind the screen and reminds us that predators can easily utilize this technology to victimize innocent children.”
Anyone with information regarding child abuse or the exploitation of children in Atlantic County is asked to contact the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit at: (609) 909-7800.
Anyone with information involving serious crimes is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7800 or go to the Prosecutor’s Office Web site at http://www.acpo.org/tips.html and provide information by filling out the form anonymously on the Submit a Tip page. People can also call Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234 or 1-800-658-8477 (TIPS) or visit the Crime Stoppers Website at http://www.crimestoppersatlantic.com/. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those who commit crimes in Atlantic County.
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