MORRIS COUNTY

Teacher charged with uploading child porn in Randolph

Peggy Wright
@PeggyWrightDR

A 29-year-old Randolph resident who teaches elementary school in Bloomfield has been charged with possessing, uploading and distributing videos and images of child pornography from his home and workplace.

Police car

Nicholas K. Schumacher of Center Grove Road was charged Friday by Morris County Prosecutor's Office Detective James Bruno with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child in connection with the alleged illicit images.

Schumacher, who is married, was initially lodged in the Morris County jail on $75,000 bail, according to criminal complaints and an arrest affidavit filed in Superior Court, Morristown. During a bail review Monday, defense attorney Terry Webb asked Superior Court Judge William McGovern in Morristown to lower bail, which he did, to $50,000.  Schumacher cannot have any contact with children under the age of 16.

Morris County Assistant Prosecutor Peter Foy said that Schumacher teaches elementary school in the Bloomfield School District.  A call to the district was not immediately returned but Webb said she believes that Schumacher has been suspended.

Between May 4 and July 30, the Prosecutor's Office conducted an investigation upon receiving a referral from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about child pornography images and videos being uploaded.  Subpoenas were sent to accounts associated with the uploading and allegedly were traced to Schumacher's residence in Randolph and his workplace in Bloomfield, the affidavit said.

Bruno and Prosecutor's Office Detective Marshall Wang interviewed Schumacher, who allegedly admitted to possession and distribution of the images and videos, the affidavit said.

   Staff Writer Peggy Wright: 973-267-1142; pwright@GannettNJ.com.