Burlington County Man Who Threatened To Kidnap, Impregnate Teen Sentenced: Authorities

A Burlington County man has been sentenced to five years in state prison, including more than four years of parole ineligibility, after he 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 on Friday.

Craig L. Wyatt, 25, of Willingboro, previously pleaded guilty to charges of first-degree manufacturing child pornography and third-degree possession of child pornography. He will be required to register as a sex offender under Megan’s Law and will be subject to parole supervision for life.

The state recommended Wyatt serve eight years in prison, including nearly seven years of parole ineligibility, but Superior Court Judge Terrence R. Cook instead imposed the five-year sentence on Friday. No reason was given as to why the judge handed down the reduced sentence.

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.

His trial in August ended with a hung jury. 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 ultimately pleaded guilty on June 2.

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 get 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 give him more pictures.

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.

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