Middletown Man Charged With Sex Assault, Met Teen Thru Video Game

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Police say a 25-year-old Middletown man met a 14-year-old girl in Oklahoma through an online video game, and then brought her to his home in New Jersey, where police say he initiated sexual relations with the juvenile. His mother was also arrested and charged in connection with the case.

Frank Bisso, 25, of Middletown was arrested Jan. 24 by members of the Middletown police Special Victims Unit, in conjunction with the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office. He was charged with sexual assault, criminal sexual contact, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, hindering apprehension and conspiracy to hinder his apprehension, said Det. Lt. Paul Bailey of Middletown police.

Police say that Bisso first met the teen girl in August 2017 through a video game being played online. Bisso was 23 at the time and she was 13 years old. Middletown police said they did not know what game it was.

In September of that year, Bisso, and his mother traveled to the girl's home in Oklahoma and met her, said police. Between September and November 2017, Bisso made two more trips to Oklahoma.

On his final trip he brought the girl, who was then 14 years old, to his home in Middletown. That's where he initiated sexual relations with the juvenile, said police.

Police said his mother, Augustina Bisso, 60, also of Middletown, brought the girl to the Middletown school district in March of 2019 to register her for school. The police investigation began once the Middletown school district notified Middletown police, the county prosecutor and the state Division of Child Protection and Permanency of the allegations.

Bisso and his mother were arrested Jan. 24.

Bisso remains in the Monmouth County jail, pending a first appearance and possible detention hearing. His mother was charged with hindering apprehension and conspiracy to commit hindering or apprehension for her actions in this case, said police. She has been processed and released on a summons.

Middletown police ask parents to be mindful of and monitor your children’s online activity. Have a discussion with your children about socializing with online gamers and especially people outside of their normal peer groups.

"Meeting anyone in person who you know only from online interactions poses a potential hazard and children are especially vulnerable in these situations," said Middletown police in a statement. "While online game play and socialization have become a popular means of meeting new people, there are those individuals who have nefarious intentions. Appropriate caution should be exercised."