New Jersey magic shop owner charged with possessing child porn

Officials announced that the owner of a magic shop and theater in New Jersey has been arrested for possessing child pornography.

Scott Morley is the owner of Morley’s Magic Theater, a store and performance venue in Butler. He faces one count of endangering the welfare of a child, a third-degree felony, Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll said in a statement Wednesday.

Authorities began investigating Morley, 48, after an anonymous tipster alerted the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force that he may be in possession of child pornography. A subsequent search of his electronic devices uncovered what authorities described as “material containing suspected child sexual abuse.”

Morley, who is also married to Butler Borough City Council member Britni Morley, was arrested on May 15. According to NJ 101.5, his wife has been serving as a municipal councilor for the first time since last year.

Officials said Morley has since been released from prison on pretrial supervision, with conditions including no unsupervised Internet use and no unsupervised contact with minors under 18. He was also banned from leaving New Jersey.

On Thursday morning, Morley’s Magic Theater’s website and Facebook page were down. The venue was also listed online as permanently closed.

The Morris County Attorney’s Office asked anyone with information regarding this case to contact the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force within the Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit.