A former NJ resident pleaded guilty to sending sexually-explicit text messages to an undercover police officer who he believed to be an 11-year-old girl, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced in a released statement.

On Oct. 22, Michael Camacho, 55, formerly of Lake Como, pleaded guilty to second-degree endangering the welfare of a child and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child in front of Superior Court Judge Paul X. Escandon.

Camacho was charged following an investigation conducted by the Ocean Township Police Department with the assistance of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Computer Crimes Unit.

The case background …

The investigation began when Camacho contacted a female child on her cell phone. An undercover detective with the Ocean Township Police Department took control of the child’s phone and began communicating with Camacho posing as the child.

The communications between Camacho and the undercover detective spanned weeks. During the text message conversations with the undercover detective, Camacho discussed engaging in sexual activity with the child, sent obscene photographs of himself to the child, requested that the child send him photographs of herself, and discussed meeting up with the child.

The Ocean Township Police Department and Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office located Camacho in New Bedford, Massachusetts.

The Massachusetts State Police, Massachusetts Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General, Enterprise, Major and Cyber Crime Division and New Bedford Police Department provided substantial assistance in locating Camacho in New Bedford and arresting him on the outstanding charges.

As part of his plea agreement, the state will recommend that Camacho be sentenced to four years New Jersey state prison. Camacho will be subject to Megan’s Law and parole supervision for life upon his release.

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