MORRIS COUNTY

Prosecutor: Man sent explicit photos to 8-year-old girl

Michael Izzo
@MIzzoDR

A Pennsylvania man was arrested Tuesday for sending sexually explicit photos to an underage girl, according to a joint announcement from Morris County Prosecutor Fredric Knapp and Parsippany Police Chief Paul Philips.

Police Car Closeup

Police arrested Matthew Maire, 25, of Butler, Pennsylvania, for two counts of endangering the welfare of children and obscenity for persons under 18.

The charges stem from allegations that Maire sent photographs of “intimate parts” of his body to the alleged victim, an 8-year-old girl, the prosecutor’s office said.

Maire also requested and received photos from the alleged victim during their one day of contact with each other, said the prosecutor's office.

The victim disclosed the incident to a family member who alerted authorities. Though the Parsippany police department was involved in the case, the prosecutor’s office did not respond when asked if the girl was from Parsippany.

Maire and the victim met and communicated through “SayHi,” a smartphone application that allows users to send messages and videos to others who use the app that are in close proximity.

On “SayHI,” Maire identified himself as “Tyler” and used the screen name “mcoolmanpa,” the prosecutor’s office said.

Maire was charged Tuesday with first-degree endangering the welfare of children, causing a child to engage in child pornography, third-degree endangering the welfare of children, and third-degree obscenity for persons under 18.

Anyone with information relating to these charges is asked to call the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit at 973-285-6200.

Staff Writer Michael Izzo: 973-428-6636; mizzo@GannettNJ.com