A Bridgewater Township man has been arrested for aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child.
Arthur Wildgoose Jr., of East Main Street, Bridgewater, was arrested Jan. 5 at his residence without incident, according to the Somerset County Prosecutor’s office. He was charged with aggravated sexual assault (a first-degree crime) and endangering the welfare of a child (third degree).
Somerset County Prosecutor Geoffrey Soriano said it was reported on Nov. 22 to the Manville Borough Police Department that the victim (who is 12 years old, and known to Mr. Wildgoose, police said) had had improper cell phone calls from Mr. Wildgoose, who is 32.
On Dec. 29, the girl further told a detective assigned to the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes and Child Abuse that she also had been sexually assaulted by Mr. Wildgoose in Manville.
Mr. Wildgoose was lodged in the Somerset County Jail. Superior Court Judge Bruce A. Jones set bail at $200,000 (cash only) with the condition that should the defendant make bail he is not to have contact with the victim.
