Howell Man Pleads Guilty in Monmouth County Child Pornography Case

A man from Howell recently pleaded guilty to a variety of sexual offenses including aggravated sexual assault and multiple counts of endangering the welfare of a child, after an extensive investigation revealed videos and photographs of him committing illicit acts on a 2-year-old male victim.

Detectives from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office arrested 23-year-old Howell resident Kevin Motyka in February of 2014 after investigators discovered pornographic images documenting him assaulting a 2-year-old boy on various occasions between May and December of 2012. Authorities were alerted by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which sparked the initial investigation.

This week, Motyka pleaded guilty to first degree aggravated sexual assault, three counts of second degree endangering the welfare of a child, and one count of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child. Under New Jersey law, endangering the welfare of a child encompasses a host of offenses, including those involving child pornography. For example, one of the second-degree charges against Motyka was for causing or permitting a child to engage in child pornography, while another was for manufacturing child pornography, and the third was for distributing child pornography. The third-degree endangering charge was related to engaging in sexual conduct with a child.

The recent guilty plea was entered under the terms of an agreement between Motyka and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office. According to prosecutors, he may be sentenced to a 13-year term of incarceration in New Jersey State Prison, 85 percent of which he will be required to serve before becoming eligible for parole under the No Early Release Act (NERA). In addition, he will be subject to mandatory registration as a sex offender under New Jersey’s Megan’s Law, as well as lifelong community supervision.

Motyka remains in custody at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution with his bail set at $700,000. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 5th before Superior Court Judge Anthony J. Mellaci, Jr.

For additional information regarding this matter, access the following article: Howell man admits to sexually assaulting 2-year-old boy, recording attack