LITTLE EGG HARBOR-Officials today announced additional charges for defendant Milton Cortina, 40, of Little Egg Harbor. Cortina on 1/30/17 was arrested and charged with two counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault (1st degree), Aggravated Criminal Sexual Contact (3rd degree), Endangering the Welfare of a Child (2nd Degree), Production of Child Pornography (1st degree), Possession of Child Pornography (2nd degree) and Invasion of Privacy (3rd degree). On 2/1/17 the partnering agencies levied additional charges of Possession of Child Pornography (2nd degree) and Invasion of Privacy (3rd degree).

Earlier this week (1/30/17), after completing an investigation begun in December of 2016 Ocean County Prosecutor’s Special Victims Unit Det. Stephanie Bayha, along with Little Egg Harbor Police Dets. Joel Mahr and Steven Martin, arrested Cortina at his Little Egg Harbor residence. At that time he was charged with Aggravated Sexual Assault and the other before mentioned charges committed against a juvenile female victim. During their investigation the Ocean County Prosecutor’s High Tech Crime Unit and Ocean County Sheriff’s Department CSI also assisted. Search warrants were executed on multiple electronic devices of Cortina which provided significant digital forensic evidence gleamed by the OCPO High Tech Crime Unit to support the charges.

On 2/1/17, after additional digital forensic evidence was developed by OCPO High Tech Crime Unit alleging a second juvenile female victim, OCPO Det. Bayha and Little Egg Harbor Police Det. Joel Mahr added charges against Cortino of Possession of Child Pornography (2nd degree) and Invasion of Privacy (3rd degree).

Nicole’s Law (no contact with victims) has been implemented. Cortina remains incarcerated in the Ocean County Jail pending a Detention Hearing. The media and public are reminded that criminal charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.