Mark Andrew Lutz - Cub Scout Leader - Child Pornography

More than 260 people in 44 states have been arrested nationwide as the result of the operation, the prosecutors said. More than two-dozen defendants arrested through the investigation have been identified as being involved in the molestation of children and approximately 12 others have been previously convicted of sex offenses against minors.

A Cub Scout den leader has been charged with possession of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced Friday. Mark Andrew Lutz, 46, of 7 Franklin Ave. in Pequannock Township, has been charged in the one count federal criminal complaint with knowingly possessing at least three images of child pornography, prosecutors said.

Agents with the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement executed a search warrant at his home on Nov. 20, according to the criminal complaint against Lutz. A desktop computer was seized.

Among the files on the computers hard drive were numerous images of what appear to be child pornography, the complaint said. Two of the photos involved prepubescent females and one involved a prepubescent male, according to the document.

Following an appearance Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patty Shwartz, Lutz was released on $100,000 bond, prosecutors said. He was prohibited, as a condition of bail, from contact with minors unless the child?s parent or guardian was present and have been made aware of the charges against him, Christie said in a statement.

Lutz, who has served as a den leader for Cub Scout Pack 144 in Pompton Plains, indicated he would be resigning from his position through his attorney at his initial court appearance.

The complaint is the result of an international investigation known as Operation Emissary, which was initiated by the New Jersey office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in late 2005 in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney?s Office for the District of New Jersey, the prosecutors office said.

The investigation focused on a commercial Internet Web site that offered access to videos and images of hard-core child pornography, prosecutors said. It alerted would-be subscribers that subscribing to the site was illegal, and warned them to be discreet about their purchase, according to prosecutors.

More than 260 people in 44 states have been arrested nationwide as the result of the operation, the prosecutors said. More than two-dozen defendants arrested through the investigation have been identified as being involved in the molestation of children and approximately 12 others have been previously convicted of sex offenses against minors.

The charge of possessing at least three images of child pornography carries a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.