Sewell Man Busted in Brigantine NJ For Attempted Child Luring

With an assist to a citizen organization, Brigantine Police have arrested a 55-year-old Sewell man on an attempted child luring charge.

The situation happened Friday, when police received a call from "members of an organization that seeks to expose individuals who utilize the internet and mobile-based applications to meet with minors for the purposes of sexual acts."

Get our free mobile app

Police say the people who called said they were at a hotel in Brigantine where they located a man "who had been having sexually explicit conversations via mobile application with a member of their organization who was posing as a 15-year-old boy." Police say the callers said the man had provided them with his room number at the hotel "for the purposes of meeting what he believed to be the 15-year-old."

Police say then then send out officers and conducted an investigation. From there, police arrested Michael J. Sharp, 55, of Sewell, charging him with "attempting to lure a child via electronic means with the purpose to commit a criminal offense against or with the child, a crime of the 2nd degree."

Sharp was taken to the Atlantic County Jail pending a hearing in court.

Finally, police stated, "It should be noted that the organization referenced above conducted a private investigation and is not known to be affiliated with law enforcement or any other governmental organization in the State of New Jersey. "

Please note that all people arrested are presumed innocent until found guilty.

SOURCE: Brigantine Police Department