Suspended Dover Police Officer Pleads Guilty To Child Pornography Offense
Thursday, June 19, 2025, 6:30 A.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
LEDGEWOOD, NJ.- A 37-year-old Ledgewood, New Jersey, man, who is currently on administrative suspension from the Dover Police Department, is facing seven years in New Jersey State Prison after pleading guilty to a child pornography offense.
On Monday, June 16, 2025, Anthony Kelly, 37, of Ledgewood, New Jersey, appeared in Morris County Superior Court and pleaded guilty before Superior Court Judge Ralph Amirata to one count of second-degree Distribution of Child Pornography. In return for the guilty plea, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office will recommend that Kelly be sentenced to seven years in State Prison.
Following entering his guilty plea, Judge Amirata accepted the plea and scheduled sentencing for July 18, 2025. In addition to the term of imprisonment, Kelly, upon release from his custodial term, will be subject to parole supervision for life and will be required to register as a sex offender pursuant to Megan’s Law registration requirements.
Guilty Plea Stems From A Child Pornography Investigation
The guilty plea stems from an investigation that began when, during the late summer months of 2024, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children referred six CyberTips to the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force regarding an individual who was distributing child pornography through an instant messaging application.
During the ensuing investigation, Detectives determined that over 100 digital images and video files depicting the sexual exploitation and abuse were being distributed from a Kik Instant Messaging application account between July 2024 and October 2024. Detectives were able to determine that the subscriber information on the account belonged to Kelly. He was subsequently taken into custody and charged on November 26, 2024.
