Hunterdon County, New Jersey, Man Pleads Guilty To Distributing Child Pornography

NEWARK, N.J. – A High Bridge, New Jersey, man today admitted distributing images of child sexual abuse over the Internet, Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced.

Darrel Underhill, 73, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of distributing child pornography.

According to documents filed in the case and statements in court:

Underhill used a peer-to-peer file sharing program on his computer to download videos and images of child sexual abuse. In October 2016, law enforcement downloaded over three dozen such videos from Underhill’s computer. After executing a search warrant at Underhill’s home in March of 2017, agents located nearly 1000 videos and over 12,000 images of child sexual abuse on Underhill’s computers. Underhill admitted today that he was making videos available for others to download.

The distribution of child pornography charge to which Underhill pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Underhill will be required to register as a sex offender. Under the terms of the plea agreement, if accepted by the court, Underhill will be sentenced to 121 months in prison. He remains in custody pending his March 28, 2018 sentencing date.

Acting U.S. Attorney Fitzpatrick credited special agents with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Homeland Security Investigation’s (HSI) Newark Division, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy, with the investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. McCarren of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.

Defense counsel: Lisa Mack Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender