More than two dozen people, including a township official, were arrested in a sweeping child porn investigation in New Jersey, officials said.

The 27 arrested include a public works director in Morristown. Most of the suspects were charged with possession of child pornography; two were charged with distribution.

"These people who create the demand for these images allow this industry to exist," State Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa said.

Officials say one of the men arrested lived in a home connected to a child-care facility.      

Authorities say the investigation began in January. The first suspect was arrested March 1. Authorities say the 23-year-old man lived next to a child day care center.

Another suspect allegedly took pornographic photos while sexually assaulting a child, officials said. Yet another was downloading pornographic images when detectives issued a search warrant.

Detectives say they traced digital fingerprints from the images as they passed through cyberspace.

The arrests took place in 20 New Jersey towns. It wasn't known if any of the suspects had lawyers. 

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