By Maria Prato-Gaines, Staff Writer
JAMESBURG — Former Borough Councilman Thomas Bodall pleaded guilty to fourth-degree charges of attempted criminal sexual conduct in a New Jersey Superior Court on Feb. 18.
Mr. Bodall, 24, was arrested in September and charged with having a sexually explicit dialogue and sending pictures of his exposed penis via the Internet to a person he believed to be a 14-year-old girl.
That minor was actually an undercover investigator for the Bergen County Computer Crimes Unit, who had created a fake online identity.
Investigators spent months tracking Mr. Bodall’s online conversations, which he conducted by way of chat and instant messaging under the screen name capemayfantasy.
He has since resigned from his council seat and his position as borough historian.
Brian Sinclair, assistant prosecutor for the Bergen County Computer Crimes unit, said he was recommending that Mr. Bodall serve 364 days in a county jail, that he be barred from social networking Web sites and that he serve probation, which could range between one and five years.
Mr. Bodall will likely pay a minimum fine of $1,300, he said.
Due to his clean criminal record and the fact that the prosecutor’s recommendations for sentencing would fit either category, Mr. Bodall’s charges were reduced from third degree to fourth degree, Mr. Sinclair said.
Following his sentencing, Mr. Bodall will face a tier hearing to determine what level of a threat he poses to society as a sex offender, Mr. Sinclair said.
Under Megan’s Law, Tier 1 offenders have to register with local law enforcement. In addition to registering with local law enforcement, Tier 2 offenders must also register online. Tier 3 offenders, considered the highest risk sexual offenders, also have the same registration process as the other two tiers, but local law enforcement must notify the public that they are residing within the vicinity.
Mr. Bodall is scheduled for sentencing with Judge Patrick Roma of the New Jersey Superior Court on May 15, Mr. Sinclair said.
Judge Roma will look at the pre-sentencing investigation report and mitigating factors to make his decision, Mr. Sinclair said.

