Ex-Fire Chief in Gloucester County, NJ, Admits to Possessing Child Pornography

A former volunteer fire chief in Gloucester County has pleaded guilty to a charge that he collected thousands of images of child sex abuse material over decades.

Martin W. Matson, 70, of West Deptford, faces seven years in prison when he’s sentenced later this year, according to court records.

Matson was originally charged in April with third-degree possessing less than a thousand items of child sex abuse material. As the investigation continued, he was charged in May with first-degree possession of more than 100,000 files of child sex abuse material, according to court records.

Matson admitted downloading the files over more than 30 years and to storing them on laptops in his basement and removable media, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed with the charges.

An April search of his residence turned up numerous binders containing printouts of the material. Detectives also located numerous pairs of young children’s underwear in the basement, including some that were soiled, investigators stated in the affidavit.

Analysis of devices seized in the April search identified more than 125,000 items of child sex abuse material, resulting in the upgraded charge in May, according to court records.

Under terms of a plea agreement signed June 24, Matson pleaded guilty to a second-degree accusation of endangering the welfare of a child by possessing “at least 1,000 but less than 100,000 or more items depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child,” according to the charge.

Under the terms of the plea deal, the prosecution will recommend a seven-year prison sentence. Matson will be subject to Megan’s Law provisions and parole supervision for life, according to the plea paperwork.

His attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.

Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 3.

Matson was a volunteer fire chief at the now-defunct Green-Fields Volunteer Fire Company in West Deptford, officials previously confirmed. The fire company shut down in 2021.

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