Lake Hopatcong man faces child pornography charges

A federal grand jury has indicted William Mickel, 69, of Lake Hopatcong on one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.

Mickel, who was employed by Boy Scout camps in New Jersey, was accused of possessing and distributing child abuse and exploitation material, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said.

He appeared Thursday, May 4 before U.S. District Judge Cathy Waldor in Newark and was detained.

According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court, Mickel possessed images and videos of child sexual abuse from February through April 2022. He allegedly distributed them using email accounts and stored hundreds of images and videos on electronic devices in his home.

Some of the videos in his possession reportedly depicted children who were surreptitiously recorded using bathrooms in the Boy Scout camps where he worked.

The count of distribution of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. The count of possession of child pornography carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James Dennehy, and substantial assistance from the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Prosecutor Robert Carroll; and the Chester Police Department, under the direction of Chief Ryan McNamee, with the investigation leading to the charges.

If you think you or your child may have been a victim, please contact the FBI at www.fbi.gov