Man Texted Monmouth County Girl, 14, In Hopes Of Sex: Prosecutor

FREEHOLD, NJ — A Burlington County man is facing weapons charges after authorities found firearms and a silencer in his home while searching it in connection allegations that he planned to meet a 14-year-old girl in Monmouth County for sex, the prosecutor's office said.

Karl Vogt, 36, was arrested Tuesday at his home in Westampton Township, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said.

Authorities said the arrest followed a monthlong investigation in which Vogt sent messages to a person he believed was a 14-year-old female high school student. In those messages, Vogt planned to meet the 14-year-old and discussed engaging in sexual activity with the child, prosecutors allege.

Authorities executed a search warrant at Vogt's Rancocas Road home and during the search found a silencer for a firearm and a large-capacity magazine for a firearm.

Vogt was charged with one count of third-degree luring; one count of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child for debauching the morals of a child; one count of fourth-degree possession of a prohibited weapon for possessing a firearms silencer; and one count of fourth-degree possession of a prohibited weapon for possessing a large-capacity magazine, Gramiccioni's office said.

The case was investigated by detectives from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, along with the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (which includes detectives from Spring Lake, Hazlet, Ocean Township, and Wall police departments), the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office Computer Crimes Unit, NJ State Police Digital Technologies Investigations Unit, the Westampton Police Department, and the Freehold Township Police Department.

Vogt faces up to 10 years in state prison along with Megan’s Law and parole supervision for life on the luring and endangering charges, and up to three years on the weapons charges.

Anyone with additional information about this case is asked to contact Detective Tiffany Lenart of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 1-800-533-7443.

Anyone who feels the need to remain anonymous but has information about a crime can contact Monmouth County Crime Stoppers confidential telephone tip-line by calling 1-800-671-4400; can text "MONMOUTH” plus their tip to 274637; or, they can email a tip via the website at www.monmouthcountycrimestoppers.com. Monmouth County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of criminals and fugitives.

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