Seaside Heights special police officer faces child porn charge

A tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children brings child pornography possession and distribution counts against a Seaside Heights Class II special police officer.

Kevin Meier, 21, of Seaside Heights, was arrested following a June 17 search of his Sheridan Avenue house, according to information from the office of Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato. He was taken into custody at about 6:30 p.m. at Seaside Heights police headquarters.

Police from the borough, along with officers from Toms River and member of the Ocean County High Tech Crime Unit, acted on information that originated at the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force on June 12, regarding possible uploading of suspected child pornograpy to the Internet in Ocean County. Investigators seized "numerous files" related to kiddie porn, authorities said.

Meier is charged with one third-degree count of possession and one second-degree count of distribution. He was placed in the Ocean County Jail in Toms River, in lieu of $50,000 full bail.

Seaside Heights PD Chief Thomas Boyd took him off the force and took possession of Meier's uniforms and gear, authorities said.