Keyport man pleads guilty to child exploitation charges

A Keyport man, Ricardo Negron, 43, has pleaded guilty to taking a sexually compromising photo of a juvenile while the child was asleep. He faces up to 14 years in prison, with sentencing set for June 27. Negron admitted to manufacturing child sexual abuse materials and endangering a child's welfare. He will serve 85% of his sentence before being eligible for parole and must register as a sex offender. The investigation began in February 2024, led by detectives from the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office and Keyport Police. Negron shared the photo on social media.