Brick Man Used Fake Military Documents Seeking Childcare Work: PD

POINT PLEASANT, NJ — A Brick Township man is facing fraud charges after police say he tried to pass himself off as being in the military in an attempt to get work as a babysitter.

Lance Bennette, 22, of Brick was arrested Jan. 18 following an investigation into a complaint filed by a Point Pleasant resident about his activities, Point Pleasant Lt. Robert Lokerson said.

Bennette is accused of using forged and fictitious documents that claimed he was in the military and required to complete family care hours as a requirement of a military program, Lokerson said. The documents were purported to be the act of U.S. military officials, but those officials did not authorize or have any knowledge of the documents.

Copies of the documents were distributed to a few Point Pleasant residents as Bennette was soliciting to perform child care, and it is alleged that Bennette used the fraudulent documents to instill trust so he would be considered to care for their children.

Bennette was charged with three counts of third-degree forgery, one count of fourth-degree theft of identity, one count of third-degree tampering with public records and one count of fourth-degree stolen valor.

Detective Lt. Adam Picca and Detective Chris Henrich investigated.

Bennette is being held at the Ocean County Jail, Toms River, pending a detention hearing.

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Lance D. Bennette photo via Ocean County Corrections website