A New Jersey man accused of assaulting federal officers during a protest outside an immigration detention facility in Newark has a prior criminal case dating back to his time as a college student, when Pennsylvania authorities charged him in a child pornography investigation.
Brendan John Geier, 26, of Madison, appeared in federal court after prosecutors charged him with assaulting federal officers and causing bodily injury during a May 28 demonstration near the ICE Delaney Hall Detention Facility in Newark. Federal authorities allege Geier kicked officers and bit two U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers during a confrontation, sending both officers to a local hospital for treatment.
The new federal case comes several years after Geier was arrested in Berks County, Pennsylvania, following an investigation that began with a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Earlier Investigation Stemmed From NCMEC Cyber Tip
According to court records and information released by the Berks County District Attorney’s Office, detectives received a complaint from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) on Sept. 21, 2018.
The complaint involved the alleged possession and uploading of child pornography through Skype on Sept. 17, 2018. Microsoft reported to NCMEC that an individual had used an internet protocol (IP) address to upload seven digital images of suspected child pornography.
Investigators traced the IP address and later determined it was associated with Geier, who at the time was a student at Kutztown University in Pennsylvania.
Search of University Residence Led to Charges
On Nov. 9, 2018, members of the Berks County Detectives Office and the Kutztown University Police Department executed a search warrant at Geier’s residence in Lehigh Hall, a student housing facility on the Kutztown University campus.
During the search, investigators seized a laptop computer and an iPhone.
According to authorities, a forensic examination of those devices uncovered numerous digital images that investigators identified as suspected child pornography.
Key Points
• Federal prosecutors charged Brendan Geier, 26, with assaulting ICE officers during a Newark protest.
• Geier was previously charged in Pennsylvania after investigators traced alleged child pornography uploads to a device linked to him while attending Kutztown University.
• Authorities alleged a forensic examination of seized devices uncovered numerous suspected child pornography images.
On March 12, 2019, the Berks County Detectives Office filed charges against Geier for Sexual Abuse of Children related to the dissemination and possession of child pornography, a second-degree felony under Pennsylvania law.
The following day, Geier surrendered to Berks County detectives accompanied by his attorney. Authorities then transferred him to the Berks County Sheriff’s Department for preliminary arraignment before Magisterial District Judge Gail Greth.
The publicly available information provided by authorities at the time detailed the allegations and charges filed against Geier. Any final disposition of the Pennsylvania case would need to be verified through court records.
Federal Assault Allegations in Newark
The current federal case stems from a demonstration outside the ICE Delaney Hall Detention Facility on Wednesday, May 28.
According to a criminal complaint filed in the District of New Jersey, ICE officers were conducting crowd-control and perimeter security operations when a group of demonstrators allegedly blocked a roadway used for facility access.
Federal prosecutors say officers repeatedly instructed demonstrators to move back as they attempted to clear the roadway.
Authorities allege Geier refused those commands and became involved in a physical struggle with officers.
According to the complaint, Geier allegedly kicked officers before biting one officer on the forearm and another officer on the knuckle. Both officers later received medical treatment at a local hospital.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said federal officials intend to pursue prosecutions involving assaults on federal law enforcement personnel.
“Peaceful protest doesn’t translate to violently attacking federal law enforcement officers,” Blanche said in a statement announcing the charge.
Department of Homeland Security officials and Homeland Security Investigations Newark also condemned the alleged assault and said attacks on federal officers would be prosecuted.
Case Remains Pending
The federal complaint filed in New Jersey contains allegations that have not been tested in court. Geier remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cari Fais following his arrest on the federal assault charge.
As of the latest court filings, the assault case remains pending in federal court, and authorities have not announced any additional charges related to the Newark protest.