FREEHOLD — A Middletown man was arrested and charged with the luring of a 14-year-old girl last year using a popular social media meeting site.
Bryan W. Sanderson, 24, of Middletown was arrested and charged on Aug. 18 with luring a 14-year-old girl last year using “Kik,” announced Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni on Sept. 8.
Sanderson is charged with one count of second degree luring a juvenile, two counts of third degree endangering the welfare of a child and a third degree violation of parole supervision for life. Investigators are seeking additional information about the man’s activities and looking to identify other possible victims.
Sanderson is currently serving a sentence for a parole violation in the Garden State Youth Correctional Facility in Bordentown Township, but is expected to be transferred on Sept. 8 to the custody of the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold Township. Sanderson will be held in lieu of $250,000 bail, as set by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Honora O’Brien Kilgallen.
The charges stem from a nearly yearlong investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, New Jersey State Parole Board and the Union County Police Department, following a motor vehicle stop on Sept. 9, 2015, after Sanderson was found with an expired registration while parked in a no-parking zone.
Inside the car, police found Sanderson with a 14-year-old female. During their investigation, the Union County Police learned Sanderson was on parole supervision for life as a result of a previous conviction. Police contacted state parole authorities advising them that Sanderson was in a car with a juvenile, prompting charges for a violation of his parole.
A subsequent investigation led to the discovery of numerous images and videos considered child pornography on Sanderson’s cellphone.
If convicted of luring a juvenile, Sanderson faces a sentence of five to 10 years in prison. If convicted of any of the third degree offenses, Sanderson faces a sentence of three to five years in prison on each count.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Michael Acquaviva of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-431-7160, ext. 2233.
Anyone who wishes to make an anonymous report can call the Monmouth County Crime Stoppers’ confidential tip line at 1-800-671-4400. Tipsters can also text “MONMOUTH” and their tip to 274637 or they can email a tip via the website at www.monmouthcountycrimestoppers.com.
Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and state law.
The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Ellyn Rajfer. The defendant is currently represented by Michael C. Woyce, Esq., of Ringwood.