NJ Lifeguard Tried To Meet Underage Girl For Sex: Prosecutor

CHERRY HILL, NJ — A 38-year-old Atlantic City lifeguard was arrested after trying to meet who he thought was a 15-year-old girl for sex in Cherry Hill, the Camden County Prosecutor's Office.

On Tuesday, Stephen M. Pagnoni, of Egg Harbor, started talking online with an undercover detective from the Camden County Prosecutor's Office High Tech Crimes Unit.

During the chat, he arranged to meet at a park in Cherry Hill for sex with the "girl" for money, authorities said.

Pagnoni was arrested at the meeting location by Cherry Hill Police and the Camden County Prosecutor's Office.

He was chargd with first-degree attempted manufacturing of child sexual abuse material, second-degree attempting to lure a child, second-degree attempted sexual assault of a minor, second-degree attempted prostitution with a minor, and third-degree attempted sending obscene material to a minor.

Pagnoni was also charged with two counts of third-degree attempted endangering the welfare of a child and two counts of engaging in prostitution, a disorderly persons offense.

He was taken to the Camden County Correctional Facility pending a detention hearing.

Pagnoni has been a member of the Atlantic City Beach Patrol for 20 years and was suspended.

Anyone with information surrounding this case or others like it is asked to contact the Camden County Prosecutor's Office High Tech Crimes Unit at (856) 225-8826.

Submissions can also be made online through the CAMDEN.TIPS site.

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