Calling him a "danger to the community," a Superior Court judge ordered a Pleasantville principal remain jailed pending child pornography charges.
Edward Bonek, 48, was arrested at his Absecon home last week, when investigators seized his school district-issued laptop and allegedly found more than 1,000 images of child pornography.
That Bonek took the laptop containing such images to work every day was "a tragic breach of the community trust," Judge Benjamin Podolnick said, adding that anyone could have accessed the files at school when Bonek was away from the computer.
"It's not locked in a safe," he said.
Bonek did look at pornography involving adults, attorney John Zarych told the judge. But he said his client did not know when he downloaded Siberian Mouse through the BitTorrent peer-to-peer file-sharing network that it was child pornography.
"It's the thinnest case of child pornography distribution that I've come across in a very long time," Zarych said.
He insisted his client never viewed the files and had the computer set not to share.
But representatives from 19 law enforcement agencies were able to download the files from Bonek's computer, Assistant Prosecutor Dave Ruffenach said.
He also said Bonek admitted to possessing images of child abuse.
The courtroom was filled with friends and family of the defendant Tuesday, including his wife who sat behind her husband.
It was a testament to the man he is, Zarych said of about two dozen co-workers, church congregants and family members who came out to support him.
The public safety assessment used to help evaluate defendants under the bail reform recommended Bonek be released on his own recognizance.
But the judge was quick to point out that the PSA is just one tool used in determining detention.
It was Podolnick's concern that there was no way to make sure Bonek would not access illegal images again that caused the judge to determine no restrictions would be enough to release the defendant.
If released, Bonek would not have been able to go to his home, since his minor children — ages 3 and 16 — live there. The plan was for him to stay with his widowed father, Edward Bonek Sr., a retired teacher. But that Bonek Sr. owns a computer also concerned the judge.
Zarych plans to appeal the detention
Bonek is facing first-degree endangerment charges on the possession and distribution of more than 1,000 photographs and/or videos. He also is charged with official misconduct for using his school district-issued computer.
Bonek had just completed his first year as full-time principal at Pleasantville High School after previously serving as interim principal and a vice principal.
He is currently suspended with pay, pending an indictment.
