A New Jersey state trooper who is accused of attempting to arrange a sexual encounter and obtain sexually graphic images from a person he believed to be a 14-year-old girl has been suspended.

Monmouth County prosecutors say Shane Dempsey, 31, offered to pay a teenager for sex. That teen was an undercover police officer.

Dempsey is facing several criminal charges after prosecutors says a detective was on the social media app Whisper when they were contacted by the trooper. They say Dempsey was attempting to arrange a sexual encounter with a detective who pretended to be a 14-year-old girl. Prosecutors say Dempsey also tried to solicit sexually explicit photos. State police say he has been suspended without pay.

Dempsey lives in Brick but was taken to Monmouth County Correctional Institution as he awaits an appearance in Monmouth County Superior Court. He was charged with second-degree attempted endangering the welfare of a child via permitting the child to engage in the production of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM), second-degree attempted engaging in prostitution, second-degree attempted luring, second-degree attempted sexual assault, and third-degree attempted endangering the welfare of a child via sexual conduct.

Anyone with additional information about Dempsey’s activities is urged to contact MCPO Detective Anthony Lacher at 800-533-7443.