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Convicted sex offender accused of harassing children inside stores

<p>Police in Howell Township are asking for the public&rsquo;s help after they say they caught a registered sex offender cruising big box stores in town.</p>

News 12 Staff

May 10, 2018, 2:29 PM

Updated 2,416 days ago

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Police in Howell Township are asking for the public’s help after they say they caught a registered sex offender cruising big box stores in town.
Police charged David Hohsfield, 62, with eight offenses related to allegedly harassing preteen girls as young as 8 and 12 years old.
Chief Andrew Kudrick says there were four incidents that took place at Walmart, Target and TJ-Maxx since May 4. He says the first incident was inside the Target on Route 9, where Hohsfield allegedly followed a 12-year-old girl into the store’s swimwear section.
"He had a Bluetooth in his ear and pretending that he was having a conversation which we know to be false," says Chief Andrew Kudrick. "He specifically targeted mothers who were with young daughters."
Chief Kudrick says Hohsfield was openly speaking in a vulgar and sexually explicit manner loud enough so that the girl could hear, according to police. Three other women have filed complaints that Hohsfield did the same to them at different times this month.
According to police, Hohsfield may have sought out girls of the Oeyhdox Jewish faith, and police want the community to come forward to them.
His previous criminal records show he's been arrested in three other counties for similar offenses.
Back in 1997, 2002 and 2009, he was charged and convicted for trying to lure victims into his car.
Hohsfield is being held at the Monmouth County Jail
Anyone who may feel that they were victimized by Hohsfield is urged to call the Howell Township Police Department at 732-938-4111.