Burlington County Man Admits Coercing Teen Into Giving Him Nude Photos, Authorities Say

A Burlington County man admitted to coercing a 13-year-old girl he met online into sending him sexually explicit photos of herself, Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino said this week.

Craig L. Wyatt, 25, of Willingboro, pleaded guilty to charges of first-degree manufacturing child pornography and third-degree possession of child pornography. He faces eight years in state prison, including nearly seven years without the possibility of parole.

He will be required to register as a sex offender under Megan’s Law and will be subject to parole supervision for life. Wyatt is lodged in the Burlington County Jail pending sentencing, which is scheduled for Aug. 18.
An investigation by the New Jersey State Police Digital Technology Investigations Unit revealed that Wyatt threatened to take the girl away from her home against her will if she did not send him sexually explicit photos of herself, according to authorities.

He was tried on the allegations in August, but those proceedings ended in a mistrial. He was previously convicted of five counts of terroristic threats in Burlington and Atlantic counties for stalking other girls on Facebook and sending them threatening messages.

He served over a year in jail and was on probation at the time of the crime to which he pleaded guilty on Friday.

“Wyatt is a dangerous predator who repeatedly stalked underage girls on the Internet and, in this case, sexually exploited a 13-year-old girl by blackmailing and terrorizing her,” Porrino said. “This guilty plea ensures that Wyatt will spend a long time in prison, where he can’t threaten other vulnerable children.”

“This case highlights the dangers posed by predators like Wyatt who rely on the anonymity of the Internet to target children through social media,” said Director Elie Honig of the Division of Criminal Justice. “We’ll continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners at all levels to catch these sexual predators and stop them from harming innocent children.”

Wyatt was indicted on Nov. 17, 2015, on charges related to the 13-year-old girl, whom he met on Facebook in May of 2014. The girl told him she was 15.

Initially, he befriended her by flattering her and sending her affectionate texts. However, after he obtained one or more nude photos of her, he became increasingly threatening, according to authorities.

In May and June of 2014, he threatened her 10 times in order to obtain more photos of her that were more sexually explicit, authorities said. Wyatt repeatedly threatened to abduct her in a series of text messages and on Facebook. He repeatedly threatened to kidnap her and/or post the photos of her he already possessed on the Internet if she did not provide more photos.

He said others would help him take her away, and that he would get her pregnant, according to authorities.
After a concerned relative of the victim learned of the threats, they contacted the State Police Digital Technology Investigations Unit, which investigated and arrested Wyatt on Oct. 31, 2014.

Detectives said they found 36 sexually explicit images of the victim, including 34 saved in his cell phone that they seized. There were two more saved in his Facebook account

“Wyatt’s beguiling demeanor towards his 13-year-old victim gave way to threats of abduction, rape, and blackmail,” said Colonel Rick Fuentes, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. “The best defense against online predators is for parents to closely monitor the online activity of their children.”

Anyone who suspects improper contact by persons communicating with children on the Internet or possible exploitation or sexual abuse of children is urged to contact the New Jersey Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Tipline at 888-648-6007.

The attached image of Craig Wyatt was provided by the Attorney General’s Office