A Monmouth County business owner pleaded guilty Friday morning to inappropriately touching several people who were both customers and employees at his store, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced.

The charges to which Brian Young, 53, owner of Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More in the Howell Center Shopping Plaza on Route 9, pleaded guilty are: third-degree endangering the welfare of a child and fourth-degree criminal sexual contact.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Young faces three years in a New Jersey state prison when he returns for sentencing on January 10, 2020. He will also be subject to the provisions of Megan’s Law and parole supervision for life upon his release from prison. 

The case background …

A joint investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and the Howell Township Police Department was launched in November of 2018 after the Howell Township Police Department received a report that the juvenile victim was inappropriately touched by Young while inside his business.

Following the Young’s arrest on Nov. 9, 2018, five additional adult victims, who were customers and employees, disclosed Young had also inappropriately touched them at the business.

The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Danielle Zanzuccki. 

— Edited press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office