Man Cuffed In Stafford For Sex With Underage Girl: Officials

MANAHAWKIN, NJ — Stafford police arrested a man charged with having sex with an underage girl, the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office announced Monday. Charles E. Torrence and the girl met on messaging app Kik, officials said.

Stafford police found Torrence in the victim's housing development, the BCPO said. The investigation began when the victim came forward to her parents to report the assault, according to authorities.

Torrence, of Marlton in Burlington County, met the victim last month through Kik, the BCPO said. They communicated through texts and FaceTime for about one week before he travelled to her home and took her to his residence for sexual intercourse, officials said.

Torrence was charged with sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child, the BCPO said. He was also charged with luring in Ocean County, authorities said.

Torrence, 49, is in Burlington County Jail, awaiting a detention hearing later this week, the BCPO said. The case will be referred to a grand jury for possible indictment, according to officials.

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer warned parents about Kik in an April 19 announcement. The free messaging app is popular with children and teens, allowing users to share instant messages, photos and videos. Kik is anonymous.

"Kik has a dubious reputation as one of leading apps used by child predators to groom under-age users," Billhimer said. "Grooming is the process employed by child predators to befriend under-age children and gradually convince them, through the app, to let their guard down and to eventually engage in inappropriate dialogue and conduct. Grooming can ultimately lead to child predators attempting to arrange meetings with minors."

Billhimer also warned that child predators use Kik to exchange child pornography and explicit messages. He recommended setting children's phones so app purchases and downloads need parental approval.

Click here to get Patch email notifications on this or other local news articles or get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our app. Download here. Follow Barnegat-Manahawkin Patch on Facebook. Have a news tip? Email josh.bakan@patch.com.