A Trenton man has been arrested and charged with multiple offenses related to online child sexual exploitation following an interstate investigation that began in Idaho, said Mercer County Prosecutor Janetta D. Marbrey .
Travis Reisen, 45, was charged with one count of first-degree manufacturing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), one count of second-degree sexual assault, one count of third-degree possession of CSAM, one count of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and one count of fourth-degree tampering with evidence.
The prosecutor’s office has filed a motion to detain Reisen pending trial.
The investigation was initiated in Idaho, when a mother reported to the Twin Falls Police Department that her 14-year-old daughter was a victim of online sexual exploitation.
The investigation revealed that the victim had posted an advertisement online seeking babysitting opportunities and was contacted by a male (later identified to be Reisen) asking about her service.
Reisen allegedly engaged in sexually explicit conversion with the victim and extorted images and video portraying her in a sexually explicit manner.
Investigators identified Reisen as a suspect and the Twin Falls Police Department contacted the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.
On Tuesday, July 22, members of the prosecutor’s ICAC Unit, with assistance from the Special Victims Unit, the Economic Crime Unit, the Cyber Crimes Unit, and the Mercer County Tactical Response Team, executed a search warrant at Reisen’s residence on Lee Avenue, where detectives seized multiple items of evidentiary value.
Reisen was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Mercer County Correction Center. First-degree crimes carry a sentence of 10 to 20 years in state prison and a fine of up to $200,000. Second-degree crimes carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the prosecutor’s ICAC Unit at (609) 989-6568 or mcposvu@mercercounty.org.
Anyone with information about suspected improper contact by unknown persons communicating with children via the internet or possible exploitation or sexual abuse of children is asked to contact the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit at (609) 989-6568 or the New Jersey Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force tip line at (888) 648-6007.
Despite having been charged, every defendant is presumed innocent until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
