Prosecutor: 27-Year-Old Arrested in Sea Bright for Luring 13-Year-Olds

A 27-year-old man has been arrested and charged with luring two 13-year-old girls into his vehicle in Sea Bright with the intent of sexually assaulting them, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced.

Nathan Cohen, 27, of Eatontown, was arrested on Feb. 15 and charged with first-degree kidnapping, second-degree child luring, third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, third-degree possession of child pornography and third-degree aggravated criminal sexual contact.

The charges stem from an early Monday morning incident. Sea Bright police found a running vehicle parked on a dead end street in the borough when an officer witnessed Cohen in the back seat of his vehicle with his arms around the two juvenile victims.

Further investigation revealed that Cohen allegedly represented himself as a 17- year-old boy to the minors and had exchanged sexually explicit images and videos with them, having arranged to see the victims in person.

Cohen was arrested at the scene and later transported to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold Township pending a detention hearing.

If convicted, Cohen will face up to life imprisonment on the kidnapping charge, up to 10 years’ imprisonment on the child luring charge, and up to five years’ imprisonment on the endangering the welfare of a child, aggravated criminal sexual contact and possession of child pornography charges respectively. In addition, if convicted, he will be subject to parole supervision for life and required to register under Megan’s Law.

This case was jointly investigated by Sea Bright police and members of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victim’s Bureau.

Investigators are seeking additional information about Cohen’s activities. Anyone with any information please contact Detective Michelle Tucker of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victim’s Bureau at 800-533-7443 or Sea Bright Police Department Detective Sergeant Richard Huegel at 732-842-0010.

Anyone who feels the need to remain anonymous, but who has information about a crime can submit a tip to Monmouth County Crime Stoppers by calling their confidential telephone tip line at 1-800-671-4400; by downloading and using the free P3 Tips mobile app (available on iOS and Android — https://www.p3tips.com/1182), by calling 800-671-4400 or by going to their website at www.monmouthcountycrimestoppers.com.