The Monmouth County Attorney’s Office has announced that a Long Branch man has been arrested and charged with soliciting sexual contact with a 13-year-old girl.
Samuel H. Christopher, 66, faces charges including second-degree lure and attempted second-degree sexual assault of a minor, according to the Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors say the investigation began this summer when Christopher conversed online with an undercover agent who he believed was a 13-year-old girl.
Christopher has revealed that he is interested in meeting girls for sexual encounters.
Christopher then arranged to meet the girl at Belmar. He was detained without incident at the time and place of the scheduled meeting.
Christopher was held at the Monmouth County Correctional Facility until his first appearance at Monmouth County Superior Court on Thursday.
A detention hearing is tentatively scheduled for Monday.