Ex-Ocean City Lifeguard Indicted On Sexual Assault Charges

OCEAN CITY, NJ — A former Ocean City lifeguard was indicted by a Cape May County Grand Jury on sexual assault charges, the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office announced Tuesday.

Jonathan C. Howell, 41, of Marmora, was indicted on the following charges, according to Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland: first degree aggravated sexual assault, second degree sexual assault, second degree official misconduct and two counts of third degree endangering the welfare of a child.

Howell's charges came after an investigation into social media posts about the Ocean City Beach Patrol, Sutherland said.

An Instagram account called "ocbp_predators" was created in April of 2021. Its bio says it shares "the untold stories of pedophiles, predators, and inappropriate behavior on the beaches of America’s Greatest Family Resort."

The page is filled with more than 150 anonymous posts sharing stories of sexual assault and harassment by Beach Patrol members to fellow employees and beachgoers. Read more: Prosecutors Probe Allegations Against Ocean City Beach Patrol

Howell was charged on June 2, 2022, after a search warrant was executed at his house, Sutherland said.

If convicted on all counts, Howell faces decades in prison.

The investigation is ongoing. Sutherland asks that anyone with additional information to contact the Prosecutor's Office at 609-465-1135, anonymously via cmcpo.tips or cmcsheriff.net or through Cape May County Crimestoppers at 609-889-3597.