Man Pleads Guilty To Luring Girl For Sex In Somers Point

SOMERS POINT, NJ — A man pleaded guilty to child luring and endangering relating to a 2017 incident in Somers Point. Dean Leon was arrested two years ago after setting up an arrangement with a 14-year-old girl to meet her in Somers Point and start a sexual relationship, officials said.

Leon, 51, is set to serve 10 years in prison and won't be parole eligible until 85 percent of the way through his sentence.

The Enola, Pennsylvania, man set up the meeting online with the girl, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said. Somers Point police were alerted March 31, 2017, that a man was traveling from Pennsylvania to meet her.

Detectives learned Leon was communicating with the victim via cell phone and was going to see her at the Somers Point Library. After arresting him there, police found Leon had several sexually explicit photos and videos of the victim on his phone and social-media accounts.

He has been detained in the Atlantic County Justice Facility.

Leon was indicted in August 2017 on the following charges, according to the ACPO:

• attempting to lure or entice a child by various means
• endangering the welfare of a child through sexual contact
• endangering the welfare of a child through possessing child pornography
• distributing obscene material to a minor
• criminal sexual contact
• endangerment by permitting a child to engage in pornography

“I want to thank the Somers Point Police Department for their efforts to protect our most vulnerable citizens, our children," said Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner. "As a community, we do not always fully appreciate the number of predators that are seeking to harm them. The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office is committed to ensuring their safety."

Click here to get Patch email notifications on this or other local news articles or get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our app. Download here. Follow Ocean City Patch on Facebook. Have a news tip? Email josh.bakan@patch.com.