Police recently arrested a Virginia man accused of sexually assaulting a young girl from Montville, New Jersey.
According to law enforcement, the 21-year-old suspect carried out the online relationship with the girl since October 2013. When the relationship allegedly began, the victim was just 12 years old.
The suspect, who is from Waynesboro VA, allegedly sent a number of sexually explicit videos to the victim. It is also believed that the suspect received explicit videos from the victim.
Authorities learned of the relationship when the girl told someone that the suspect was threatening to post a video of her engaging in sexual acts. The video was reportedly going to be posted on Instagram.
Police conducted an investigation and listened in on a phone conversation between the victim and the suspect. During the call, the suspect allegedly acknowledged participating in sexual video chats with the victim on earlier occasions.
The suspect was subsequently placed under arrest in Virginia and charged with sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child.
If the suspect is convicted of sexual assault in NJ, he faces severe penalties. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2, sexual assault is classified as a second degree crime. A conviction for second degree sexual assault could lead to a sentence of 5-10 years in New Jersey State Prison. Additionally, the offender could be subject to Megan’s Law sex offender registration requirements after being released from prison.
After being extradited to New Jersey, the suspect was taken to the Morris County Jail in Morristown, New Jersey. He was being held at the jail in lieu of $125,000 bail.
To learn more about this case, check out the NJ.com article entitled “Va. Man Allegedly Had Online Sex with Montville Teen, Report Says.”
