NJ police officer, farm co-owner charged in child sex abuse materials case

SALEM, N.J. (WPVI) -- A Salem County resident and business owner who is also a Gloucester Township, Camden County police officer is facing multiple criminal charges after an investigation into alleged child sexual abuse materials, according to court documents.

Authorities said 38-year-old Randy Pearce was arrested Friday. Court records allege the incidents occurred in late March, with the investigation beginning in mid-April.

Pearce is charged with first- and third-degree offenses tied to a child sex abuse materials investigation. He is the co-owner and business manager of Swazey Farms in Lower Alloways Creek, a business featured on 6abc in November.

Prosecutors allege Pearce possessed child sexual abuse material in a Verizon iCloud account. During that investigation, authorities said they uncovered recordings of a child nude in a bathroom, on multiple occasions. Court documents do not specify where the alleged recordings occurred but indicate the case was triggered by a cybertip received by the prosecutor's office in April.

Pearce is an Army veteran and police officer in Gloucester Township, Camden County, where he also worked as a school resource officer, according to a 2021 photo shared by the department.

Township officials confirmed they are aware of the arrest. In a statement, Mayor David Mayer said:

"We are aware of the arrest involving a member of the Gloucester Township Police Department. Gloucester Township holds its employees to high professional and ethical standards. Our commitment to maintaining the trust of our community and supporting the dedicated men and women who serve honorably every day remains unwavering. Because this is an ongoing legal matter, we cannot comment further on the specifics, but we remain strictly committed to the highest standards of integrity and accountability."

The police department directed all inquiries to the prosecutor's office.

The local school district has not responded to a request for comment.

At Swazey Farms on Friday, no one answered the door despite signs indicating the business was open. Online, the farm advertises programs involving children as part of the growing business.

"The hope is to have schools and organizations come here to see us and see what we're doing on the ground," Pearce said in a previous 6abc story.

Neighbors declined to speak on camera but said they were shocked by the allegations. Pearce remained in custody and could not be reached for comment.

Attempts to contact a public relations representative listed on the farm's website were also unsuccessful.