FREEHOLD – An Essex County man has been arrested and charged with seeking a sexual encounter with an underage boy, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced on Thursday.
Jonar I. Arenas, 48, of Bloomfield, is charged with second-degree Luring, second-degree Attempted Sexual Assault of a Minor and third-degree Attempted Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
An investigation was initiated in August by a Prosecutor’s Office Detective from the High Tech Bureau, acting in an undercover capacity on a social media app. While monitoring the app, the Detective was contacted by another user, later identified as Arenas. After discussions on the app and other forms of communication, Arenas attempted to set up a sexual encounter with a person that he believed was a 14-year-old boy.
On Wednesday, September 18, 2024, Arenas was taken into custody without incident in Freehold Borough and transported to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution (MCCI) pending future court proceedings in Monmouth County Superior Court.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Anthony Lacher at 800-533-7443.
Anyone who feels the need to remain anonymous but has information about a crime can submit a tip to Monmouth County Crime Stoppers by calling their confidential telephone tip-line at 1-800-671-4400; by downloading and using the free P3 Tips mobile app (available on iOS and Android – https://www.p3tips.com/1182); by calling 800-671-4400; or by going to the website at www.monmouthcountycrimestoppers.com
Convictions on charges of this nature are commonly punishable by terms of 5 to 10 years in state prison, along with being subject to the provisions of Megan’s Law registration and Parole Supervision for Life.
The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Joseph Competello. Information about legal representation for Arenas was not immediately available.
Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.
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