Online child abuse probe leads to lifetime parole for Mercer County man

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A Ewing man has been sentenced to parole supervision for life following an investigation into online child exploitation.

Philip Nelson, 35, was sentenced Aug. 15 by Mercer County Superior Court Judge Peter E. Warshaw to a suspended state prison term and lifetime parole supervision, according to Mercer County Prosecutor Janetta D. Marbrey.

The sentencing follows an investigation by the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit.

Detectives began their investigation after receiving information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children indicating that a Mercer County resident had uploaded multiple files of suspected child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online.

ICAC detectives identified Nelson as a suspect and executed a search warrant at his Ewing home in March 2025, seizing several items of evidentiary value.

He was subsequently charged with possession of CSAM and possession with intent to distribute.

On April 30, Nelson pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child by possessing fewer than 1,000 images of CSAM.

As part of his sentence, Nelson, a state employee, was ordered to forfeit his public job and is barred from future public employment.

Prosecutor Marbrey urged the public to report suspected online child exploitation or abuse.

Tips can be made to the ICAC Unit at (609) 989-6568 or the New Jersey Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force tip line at (888) 648-6007. Anonymous tips can also be submitted at www.mercercountyprosecutor.com.

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