Child Luring Charges Levied Against Burlington County Man: Officials

CHATSWORTH, NJ —Officials in Monmouth County have charged a Burlington County man with seeking a sexual encounter with a 14-year-old girl.

The man, 31-year-old Hazleton Newman, was trying to set up a meeting with who he believed to be the teenager, said Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago's office.

Newman, of Chatsworth, faces charges of second-degree luring, third-degree attempted endangering the welfare of a child and fourth-degree attempted sexual assault of a minor. Santiago announced the charges against Newman on Friday, and he remains detained in Monmouth County.

"An investigation revealed that Newman was attempting to set up a sexual encounter with who he believed to be a 14-year-old girl via electronic platforms and other forms of communication," Santiago said.

Officials ask anyone with more information "about Newman's activities" to contact Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Anthony Lacher at 800-533-7443.

The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Computer Crimes Unit and Special Victims Bureau were the lead investigators in the case, said Santiago. The prosecutor's office thanked the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office, Pemberton Township Police and the New Jersey State Police Red Lion Station for their work in the investigation.

Monmouth County Crime Stoppers has a confidential telephone tip-line at 1-800-671-4400. There are also online options: by downloading and using the free P3 Tips mobile app: https://www.p3tips.com/1182; by calling 800-671-4400; or by going to the website at www.monmouthcountycrimestoppers.com.

Convictions on charges of this nature are commonly punishable by terms of 5 to 10 years in state prison, along with being subject to the provisions of Megan’s Law registration and Parole Supervision for Life, the prosecutor's office said.

The case has been assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Joseph Competello.

Patch's Pat McDaniel contributed to this report.