Howell Police Sergeant Indicted In Child Luring Attempt

TRENTON, NJ — A suspended Howell Township police sergeant who was arrested in a 2018 sting operation has been indicted on charges he tried to lure a 15-year-old girl for sex, the state attorney general's office announced Wednesday.

Richard C. Conte, 48, of Farmingdale, was indicted on four counts that resulted from Operation Open House, where 24 men were arrested in Toms River on allegations they tried to use social media to lure underage girls and boys for sexual activity.

Conte is accused of trying to meet a person who he believed was a 15-year-old girl for a sexual encounter, but the person actually was an undercover detective, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said.

Conte was indicted on second-degree official misconduct; second-degree luring; third-degree attempted endangering the welfare of a child, and fourth-degree attempted sexual contact with a victim aged 13 to 15. Conte, who also served on the Monmouth County SWAT team, has been on suspension without pay since his Sept. 6, 2018, arrest, Howell Police Chief Andrew J. Kudrick Jr. said.

"This accusation is a serious breach of the public’s trust and the integrity of this police department, said Kudrick, who said he was involved in the investigation and said his recommendation was to fire Conte immediately. Conte was suspended without pay pending the outcome of the court proceedings, a decision township officials made in consultation with the township attorney, Kudrick said.

"It is an embarrassment and insult to everyone who honorably wears the Howell patch on our sleeve and the badge upon our chest," the chief said. "(Conte's) actions are not a reflection of the officers or this department. I can assure you we are all repulsed."

Conte started speaking to the "girl" four days before his arrest, authorities said, talking through an online social media site. The person he encountered was really an undercover detective with the New Jersey Regional Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.

"Although the 'girl' repeatedly indicated that she was 15 years old, Conte continued to chat with her online and email her," Grewal's office said in the news release. Authorities allege he used his work phone to engage in chats with the "girl" and ultimately arranged to meet her for sexual activity at a location in Toms River.

Conte claimed in the chats that he was 19 years old and had condoms in his pocket when he arrived at the meet location on the night of Sept. 6, 2018, and was arrested by law enforcement officers conducting Operation Open House, authorities said.

If convicted, Conte faces up to 10 years in prison on the second-degree charges and up to 5 years on the third-degree charge, and fines.

He was indicted in Mercer County but will be tried in Ocean County, Grewal's office said.

Kudrick expressed appreciation for the support of the Howell community.

"I thank all of you for the continued support and the high level of respect and support you consistently display towards my officers," he wrote on the police department's Facebook page.

In addition to investigating cyber tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, members of the New Jersey State Police Digital Technology Investigations Unit, the Division of Criminal Justice Financial & Computer Crimes Bureau, and the New Jersey Regional Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force routinely conduct undercover chat investigations on social media platforms leading to arrests of hands-on offenders and defendants attempting to lure children. They also conduct proactive investigations to apprehend offenders by monitoring peer-to-peer file-sharing networks and identifying the IP addresses of individuals sharing child pornography.

Anyone with information about the distribution of child pornography on the internet – or about suspected improper contact by unknown persons communicating with children via the internet or possible exploitation or sexual abuse of children – to please contact the New Jersey Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Tipline at 888-648-6007.

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