The Monmouth County
Prosecutor’s Office announced a man from Long Branch has been
arrested and criminally charged with seeking a sexual encounter with a
13-year-old girl.
According to the prosecutor’s office, Samuel H. Christopher, 66, is
charged with second-degree luring and second-degree attempted sexual assault of
a minor, among other charges.
The prosecutor’s office says the investigation began earlier
this summer when Christopher engaged in conversations with an undercover
officer online, believing the officer to be a 13-year-old girl.
Christopher allegedly made it
clear he was interested in meeting with the girl to engage in a sexual
encounter.
Christopher then made
arrangements to meet the girl in Belmar. He was taken into custody without
incident at the time and location of their planned meeting.
Christopher was lodged in
the Monmouth County Correctional Institution pending a first appearance that
took place Thursday in Monmouth County Superior Court.
A detention hearing has been
tentatively scheduled to be heard Monday.