A collaborative investigation involving the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the FBI has resulted in the arrest of an area 66-year-old man on charges in connection with his alleged seeking of a sexual encounter with a 13-year-old girl, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey announced on Thursday.
Samuel H. Christopher, of Long Branch, has been charged with second-degree luring, second-degree attempted sexual assault of a minor, third-degree attempted endangering the welfare of a child, and fourth-degree attempted criminal sexual contact with a minor.
If convicted of either of the second-degree criminal offenses filed against him, Christopher would face a term of up to 10 years in state prison.
The case background …
The investigation began earlier this summer, when Christopher allegedly engaged in conversations with an undercover officer online, believing the officer to be a 13-year-old girl.
Christopher allegedly made it clear that he was interested in meeting with the girl to engage in a sexual encounter. Christopher then made arrangements to meet the girl in Belmar; and, he was taken into custody without incident at the time and location of their planned meeting.
Christopher was held in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution (MCCI) pending an initial appearance that took place yesterday in Monmouth County Superior Court. A detention hearing has been tentatively scheduled to be heard on Monday, Aug. 15.
“This defendant’s conduct was calculating, manipulative, and disturbingly predatory. We are relieved that when he arrived at the location of his choosing earlier this week, he was met by officers waiting to take him into custody — not a young girl
Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey
he sought to victimize.”
Anyone with any information about Christopher’s activities is urged to contact Prosecutor’s Office Detective Dawn Correia at 800-533-7443.
— Edited press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office
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