Ex-Belmar-Area Man Sent Obscene Texts To Cop Posing As Girl, 11

A former Belmar-area has been accused of sending obscene, sexual text messages to an undercover police officer posing as an 11-year old Monmouth County girl, according to authorities.

Michael Camacho, 55, formerly of Lake Como and most recently of New Bedford, Mass., was arrested Wednesday and charged with second-degree luring, second-degree attempted endangering the welfare and other charges, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.

An investigation conducted by the Ocean Township Police Department with the MCPO's assistance resulted in Camacho's arrest. He was arrested by members of the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit.

The investigation began when Camacho contacted a female child on her cell phone. An undercover detective with the Ocean Township Police Department took control of the child’s phone and began communicating with Camacho posing as the child, according to the MCPO.

The communications between Camacho and the undercover detective spanned weeks. During the text message conversations with the undercover detective, Camacho discussed engaging in sexual activity with the child, sent obscene photographs of himself to the child, requested that the child send him photographs of herself, and discussed meeting up with the child, according to the MCPO.

Camacho faces a sentence of 5 to 10 years in a New Jersey state prison and is subject to the provisions of Megan’s Law and Parole Supervision for Life upon his release if convicted of either of the second-degree charges, according to MCPO.

Camacho has waived extradition and is pending transportation to New Jersey to face these charges.

Investigators are asking anyone who may have information about this investigation, or who feels they may have been subject to inappropriate online communications by Camacho, to call Detective Michael Melody of the Ocean Township Police Department at 732-897-3242 or Detective Tiffany Lenart of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Computer Crimes Unit at 732-431-7160.

MCPO photo