Monmouth Man Performed Sex Acts Online With Juveniles: Prosecutor

FREEHOLD – A Jersey Shore man is facing up to five years in state prison after commiting sex acts over video chats with juveniles, prosecutors said.

Barton Cross-Tierney II, 31, of Ocean Township, pled guilty on Feb. 9 before Judge Jill G. O’Malley to third degree endangering the welfare of a child and third degree exhibiting obscenity to a minor, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey said.

The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office received multiple Cybertips in 2018 regarding a user on the video chat and text exchange platform Discord engaging in inappropriate conversations with underage individuals.

In December 2018, a juvenile female contacted the FBI tipline and reported that she had engaged in an inappropriate online relationship with a man from Ocean Township using the Discord username “Barton Cross.”

An investigation revealed that Barton Cross committed sexual acts while in a video chat with the juvenile victim. Further investigation revealed the Barton Cross was in communication with another juvenile victim on Discord, whom he also engaged in sexual acts while in a video chat with.

In accordance with his plea agreement, Cross-Tierney, faces up to five years in state prison, mandatory Megan’s Law registration and Parole Supervision for Life.