T-Shirt Shop Owner Sexually Assaulted Child At Howell Store: Cops

A 52-year old man who owns a T-shirt shop in New Jersey was arrested for sexually assaulting and having inappropriate contact with a child inside the store, prosecutors said.

Brian Young, 52, the owner of Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More at the Howell Center Shopping Plaza on Route 9, was arrested and charged Friday, according to Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

An investigation was launched after Howell Township Police Department received a report that the victim was inappropriately touched by Young while inside his business, according to the MCPO.

The case is a joint investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and the Howell Township Police Department.

Investigators are seeking additional information about Young’s activities, they're looking to identify other possible victims, according to prosecutors.

Anyone with any information should contact Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Thomas Manzo Jr. at 800-533-7443 or Howell Township Police Department Detective Robert Ortenzi at 732-938-4111.

If convicted of second degree sexual assault, Young faces a maximum of 10 years in a New Jersey state prison, subject to the No Early Release Act (NERA), which requires the defendant to serve 85 percent of the sentence before he is eligible for release.

If convicted of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, Young faces a maximum of 5 years of incarceration. Should Young be convicted of either crime, he will be subject to the provisions of Megan’s Law and to parole supervision for life.

The defendant remains incarcerated at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, pending his first appearance.

The case has been assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Danielle Zanzuccki.

MCPO photo