The culmination of a four month investigation into child pornography possession and distribution is the cause of commotion in two quiet Barnegat neighborhoods this morning.

Eric Underwald
Eric Underwald (Ocean County Prosecutor's Office)
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The Ocean County Prosecutors Office says 27-year-old Eric Underwald of Windward Drive was taken into custody after trying to access knives and swords hidden in his bedroom and flee from a second story window.

Prosecutor Joseph Coronato says after High Tech Crimes Unit and partnering agencies executed search warrants at Underwald's present residence at 31 Windward Drive and a prior residence at 78 Deer Run Drive in Barnegat they recovered hundreds of pictures and movie files on Underwald's computer and multiple electronic storage devices.

Coronato says the arrest is the result of a cooperative investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, Bergen County Prosecutor's Office, Department of Homeland Security / Immigrations & Customs Enforcement (DHS/ICE), and Barnegat Police Department into Underwald's alleged sharing and possessing child pornography files.

Underwald is charged with 2 counts of 2nd Degree Distribution of Child Pornography and 1 count of 4th Degree Possession of Child Pornography. Bail was set at $75,000 no 10% by Judge Miller. Coronato says Underwald was transported by Barnegat Police to Southern Ocean Medical Center for evaluation after making several suicidal statements during arrest.

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