BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Former Berkeley Elementary School music teacher Nicholas Schumacher, 30, charged with possession and distribution of child pornography, accepted a plea bargain in Morris County Courthouse on July 26. He will be sentenced to three years in state prison and registration under Megan’s Law. As part of the agreement, the charge of possession, a third-degree offense, was dropped.
Distribution of child pornography is a second-degree offense. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 16.
Schumacher was arrested at his home Aug. 21, 2015, and was free on $50,000 bail. He was required to surrender his passport, possess no firearm or weapon, and not have any contact with children under the age of 16. A press release at the time of his arrest said he accessed the pornography at his home and place of employment.
The investigation began when the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, that child pornography was being uploaded by the defendant.
Judge Catherine Enright presided at the plea hearing. The prosecutor was assistant Morris County Prosecutor Meg Rodriguez.
Schumacher was represented by Gerard Hanlon, of Morristown. Hanlon could not be reached for comment.
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