A Camden County police officer plead guilty to endangering the welfare of a child in Camden County Superior Court on April 20, 2018 by admitting to having sex with a 15-year-old girl. The girl later gave birth to their child at a nearby hospital. The officer initially claimed he did not know the child was 15 and thought she was 18.
A person is guilty of Endangering the Welfare of a Child when any person having a legal duty for the care of a child or who has assumed responsibility for the care of a child engages in sexual conduct which would impair or debauch the morals of the child is guilty of a crime of the second degree.
Any other person who engages in conduct or who causes harm as described above to a child is guilty of a crime of the third degree. In exchange for his plea the now former Camden County police officer received 5 years probation and no jail time.
In making the State’s argument the Assistant Prosecutor stated that just because the officer thought she was 18 does not make it legal. A police officer is held to a higher moral standard and is expected to do further investigation.
If this had been a robbery and the suspect said it was not him would the officer just believe him? The police officer in this case was fortunate he did not go to jail, but his future in public employment is done forever.
Not all of us are police officers and are so fortunate to avoid jail time, so if you or someone you know have been charged with endangering the welfare of a child call the Law Offices of Chirag D. Mehta, LLC to represent you