LBI Man Charged With Criminal Sexual Contact, Endangering Welfare Of Child

An 82-year-old Beach Avenue Terrace man was arrested by Long Beach Township Police and a detective from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office after a 15-year-old boy reported the man inappropriately touched him, authorities said.

The boy told police that David T. Wirth had touched his genital area three times and took his hand and placed it on his genitals. He also reported the incident to nearby adults, who contacted police, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.

Patrolman James Hartmann and Detective Jeff Ehlers of the Long Beach Township Police Department and Ocean County Prosecutor’s Detective Jason Steele arrested Wirth on Aug. 5 at his Beach Haven Terrace home on charges of endangering the welfare of a minor and criminal sexual contact.

Ocean County Senior Assistant Prosecutor Terry Linardakis approved the charges. Superior Court Judge James M. Blaney set Wirth’s bail at 50,000 with no 10 percent option. Nicole’s Law was applied mandating no contact with the victim. Wirth is lodged in Ocean County Jail in Toms River in lieu of bail.