Child Abuse

The Howell man who pleaded guilty for sexually abusing a two-year-old boy and recording videos and stills of it is given a 12-year prison term.

A Lakewood woman, suspected of severely beating a four-year-old boy in the township, faces charges of aggravated assault and Title 9 child abuse.

Bail is set at $150,000 for a Lakewood 22-year-old accused of beating a baby girl and breaking her skull.

Triggered by the sexual hazing scandal at Sayreville War Memorial High School, upcoming legislation in Trenton would increase the penalties for adults who fail to report instances of child abuse.

The new Children's Advocacy Center is run by the Special Victims Unit of the County Prosecutor's Office. Lieutenant Colleen Lynch, who runs the center, said it provides one-stop services for child crime victims.

A Newton 56-year-old arrested in July for kiddie porn later admitted luring a 15-year-old to Pennsylvania for sex and having erotic fantasies about child cannibalism, say federal investigators. Now they want to know if Robert Mucha's alleged victims include any children in Lakewood, where he spent time as a drum and bugle corps instructor several years ago.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and the New Jersey Department of Children and Families is asking residents be extra aware and watch out for the signs of abused or exploited children.