Full Notification

On Tuesday, October 26, 2021, at approximately 9:30 A.M., members of the Wildwood Police Department Uniform Patrol Division responded to the 3200 block of New Jersey Avenue, Wildwood, in connection to a domestic assault, in progress.  During the initial investigation, the complainant was identified as Leonel Torres-Rodriguez, who reported that he was physically assaulted by his ex-girlfriend.   
     As the investigation continued, pertinent information was developed that the domestic assault occurred as a direct result of Torres being in possession of compromising unclothed / nude photographs and video recordings of a prepubescent child on his cellular telephone.    
     The follow-up investigation was conducted by the Wildwood Police Department Detective Division and the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit.  During the developing investigation, a search warrant was applied for and granted by a Judge of the Superior Court of New Jersey, in connection to the investigation. 
     During the execution of the search warrants, specific evidence was uncovered   with a nexus to Torres-Rodriguez, in connection to possessing digital images and videos of unclothed / nude prepubescent children.  As a result of the developing factual information, connecting Torres-Rodriguez, to the illicit digital photographs and video recordings, he was arrested for his unlawful actions.  Torres-Rodriguez is a 33-year-old, Hispanic Male, and is an actively employed maintenance man, currently residing in the City of Wildwood.  Torres-Rodriguez was charged with the following criminal offenses, in connection to this incident.

• Invasion of privacy (a crime of the third degree),
• Endangering the welfare of a child by possessing child pornography (a crime of the third degree),
• Endangering the welfare of a child, by the manufacturing of child pornography (a crime of the second degree)
• Endangering the welfare of a child by failing to provide legal duty and care for a child (a crime of second degree)