The aggravated assault and child porn possession counts against Anthony Marano, 29, are in the third degree, but he also faces a second-degree pornography distribution charge, according to the office of Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato. He is detained in the Ocean County Jail in Toms River until his initial court appearance.

Marano's Tuesday arrest stemmed from a collaborative investigation that began in December 2016 by the Prosecutor's High Tech Crime Unit (HTCU), Jackson Township PD and U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Authorities said that they were thwarted in their attempt to pursue the probe by "covert cyber measures" that Marano allegedly took. HTCU obtained supplemental information from the FBI Cyber Crime Task Force, and obtained a warrant that they executed Tuesday.

Detectives said that they announced themselves several times, and watched Marano move from the living room to the bedroom of his house, rather than approaching the doorway.

They forced their way in and encountered Marano, leaving the bedroom with the semi-automatic handgun, authorities said, adding that he dropped the weapon after several orders to do so. They said that they found one round in the chamber, and seized salacious images of children.

Charges are accusations. Defendants are presumed innocend unless, and until, found guilty in a court of law.

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