Lakehurst Man Who Tried To Lure Teen Via Snapchat Pleads Guilty

TRENTON, NJ — A Lakehurst man who tried to lure a teenage girl into having sex with him via Snapchat in 2019 has pleaded guilty to possessing and distributing child pornography, along with inducing a minor to send him sexually explicit images, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced Wednesday.

Kevin Van Pelt, 33, of Lakehurst, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Georgette Castner to one count each of online enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual conduct, distribution of child pornography, and possession of prepubescent child pornography, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said.

Van Pelt was arrested May 1, 2019 following a two-month investigation by Gloucester County authorities, who learned Van Pelt met the 14-year-old victim online and then talked to her through Snapchat and Instagram, trying to convince her to meet with him.

He asked the girl to send him nude photos, and according to federal authorities, continued to talk to her even after learning she was only 14. At one point, according to the charging document, he said to the victim: "I was always attracted to girls younger than me," and "Most people don’t like pedophiles so I didn’t want to say I prefer 13-16 lol."

Van Pelt was charged by federal authorities in 2020.

Sellinger's announcement of the guilty plea said Van Pelt used multiple online messaging services to communicate with the girl from August 2018 to October 2018, repeatedly asking her to send him sexually explicit images.

Van Pelt also distributed images and videos of child sexual abuse over several online social media applications between December 2017 and March 2019. Van Pelt had images and videos of prepubescent child sexual abuse on his cellular phone when he was arrested by local authorities on May 1, 2019, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Van Pelt, who was a part-time sportswriter for NJ Advance Media at the time, is scheduled to be sentenced on July 20, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

The charge of online enticement carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, with a maximum of life in prison, and a $250,000 fine. The charge of distribution of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, to a maximum of 20 years, and a $250,000 fine. The charge of possession of prepubescent child pornography carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.