Police recently arrested a Boonton Township NJ man who allegedly had sex with an underage girl.
According to authorities, the 21-year-old suspect posed as a United States Marine and told the 14-year-old victim that he would be deploying overseas in a few days. He then allegedly convinced her to have sex with him.
Law enforcement learned of the alleged sex crime after the girl notified local police. The victim told investigators that she engaged in sexual intercourse with the suspect at his Boonton NJ residence.
According to the victim, the suspect claimed to be a U.S. Marine. He even reportedly wore dog tags around his neck and had a tattoo of the U.S. Marine Corps logo.
After speaking with the victim, Boonton police and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit investigated and determined that the suspect had never been enlisted in the Marines.
The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office and the Boonton Township Police Department later issued a joint announcement of the suspect’s arrest.
The suspect has been charged with second degree sexual assault, third degree child endangerment, and fourth degree unlawful wearing of a uniform.
If the suspect is convicted of second degree sexual assault in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2, he could be sentenced to 5-10 years in NJ State Prison.
After being arrested and charged, the suspect was transported to the Morris County Correctional Facility in Morristown, New Jersey. He was being held at the jail in lieu of $75,000 bail.
The suspect has also been slapped with a restraining order that prevents him from having any contact with the alleged victim. He is also prohibited from contact with any children under the age of 18.
Boonton Man Facing Sexual Assault Charges on Underage Girl
For additional information about this case, go to the NJ.com article entitled “Phony Marine Had Sex with 14-Year-Old Girl, Told Her He Was Shipping Out, Cops Say.”