BUTLER, NJ — A Butler-based magician and performer who has been accused of child porn possession will maintain his innocence at an upcoming court hearing, his attorney said.
In late May, Morris County officials charged Scott Morley, who is formerly the owner and operator of Morley’s Magic Theater in Butler, with third-degree endangering the welfare of a child.
The 48-year-old’s next court appearance is scheduled for July 1, officials told Patch.
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A tipster reportedly told officials that Morley might be keeping child sexual abuse material, and that he had reportedly smashed several data drives upon being confronted about it in the magic shop.
Morley’s also offered magic workshops and birthday parties, and performed at private events, while advertising as a family business. The magic shop and theater (18 Boonton Avenue, Butler) has since closed, and its website and Facebook page taken down.
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At an initial court appearance, a judge ordered Morley to be released under certain conditions, instead of keeping him in jail ahead of trial.
This is something that defense attorney Robert A. Bianchi noted, as he told Patch he believes the court made the right decision and that prosecutors overreacted.
“We ask for patience as we work through this case and have the ability to give a more well-rounded picture of the conditions that led to his release,” Bianchi said.
“We look forward to sorting this out in a court of law instead of the court of public opinion.”
The pre-trial supervision conditions included no unsupervised internet usage, no unsupervised contact with minors under the age of 18, and that Morley could not leave the state of New Jersey.
Attorney Andrew DeLaney said he is representing Britni Morley, a councilwoman for Butler Borough, in her pending divorce. DeLaney said Britni “fully cooperated” with borough police and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office during the criminal investigation into her soon-to-be ex-husband.
“Beyond that, she is not involved in any way in the criminal matter,” said attorney DeLaney in a statement to Patch. “Any suggestions of wrongdoing on her part are baseless, disgusting and ultimately destructive to the criminal justice process. Ultimately, we look to conclude the divorce so that my client can focus on raising her two children, and providing for them financially and emotionally.”
Tipster says they found underwear, USB drives in theater
This investigation began in April when the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office got an anonymous tip that Scott Morley might be possessing child pornography, authorities said.
Court documents detail that the tipster had been painting inside the theater sometime between 2021 and 2022, and told police they had found “a bag of thumb drives and a pair of children’s female underwear.”
The person said they confronted Morley about the USB drives and the underwear, and Morley “took a hammer and destroyed them,” according to the affidavit which officials filed in court.
After this person reported their allegations to the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce on April 11, the Prosecutor’s Office informed local police.
A detective interviewed the witness on April 12, and also contacted Morley on that date.
Morley reportedly told the detective that his interest in child porn dated back to 1996, and said he had approximately 50 “questionable” images on his cell phone.
He also confirmed that he smashed the thumb drives that the tipster found and told the detective he preferred child pornography involving “young ones” because it was in his comfort zone, according to the affidavit.
Morley “stated on several occasions that the kids underwear are a part of his fantasy” and that he gets sexual gratification from the photos, court documents show.
Officials obtained a search warrant and found several images of pre-pubescent children engaged in sexual acts on his devices, per the affidavit.
Anyone who may have more information as the investigation continues is asked to contact the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office – Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force of the Sex Crimes / Child Endangerment Unit at 973-285-6200.
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