submitting a one-sentence letter of resignation stating "Please accept this letter as my formal resignation from the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey, effective immediately", and offering no explanation for his actions. The resignation was accepted at once by Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts. Democratic committee members from the district selected Annette Quijano to fill Cohen's vacancy. Cohen was indicted for official misconduct (2nd degree), reproduction of child pornography (2nd degree), distribution of child pornography (2nd degree), and possession of child pornography (4th degree). In a plea agreement, the state dropped the official misconduct charge and three of four child pornography counts, and on April 12, 2010, Cohen pleaded guilty to the charge of endangering the welfare of a child by distributing child pornography. With the possibility of up to 30 years imprisonment, State Attorney General Paula Dow sought a five-year prison term for Cohen, as well his disbarment. He was sentenced to five years and was incarcerated from November 4, 2010, until January 4, 2012, when he was released on parole. References External links Assemblyman Cohen's legislative web page, New Jersey Legislature New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure forms 2007 2006 2005 2004 District 20 Webpage Assembly Member Neil M. Cohen, Project Vote Smart New Jersey Voter Information Biography for 2003 Race 1951 births American people convicted of child pornography offenses Jewish American state legislators in New Jersey Living people Athens State University alumni Howard University alumni County commissioners in New Jersey New Jersey lawyers Politicians from Newark, New Jersey Politicians from Union County, New Jersey People from Roselle, New Jersey New Jersey politicians convicted of crimes Democratic Party members of the New Jersey General Assembly Lawyers from Newark, New Jersey 21st-century American politicians American politicians convicted of sex offences 21st-century American Jews