Tuckerton Man Charged With Multiple Sex Crimes Involving Minors
Friday, February 21, 2025, 3:15 P.M. ET. 3 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
LAKEWOOD, NJ.- Yesterday, a 28-year-old Tuckerton, New Jersey, man was taken into custody and jailed after being charged in connection with a string of sexual incidents that occurred on multiple occasions in Lakewood Township, New Jersey.
According to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, following a month-long investigation, on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, Michael Marto, 28, of Tuckerton, New Jersey, was formally charged with Sexual Assault; Luring; Lewdness; and four counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
Following being charged on Thursday, February 20, 2025, Marto was located and taken into custody at his Tuckerton, New Jersey home by Detectives of the Lakewood Police Department, Little Egg Harbor Township Police Department, and the Tuckerton Police Department. Marto was processed on the charges and was transported to the Ocean County Jail, pending future court proceedings in Ocean County Superior Court.
Charges Result From Multiple Incidents Involving Teens
The charges are a result of an investigation that began on November 24, 2024, when the Lakewood Township Police Department received a report regarding a man traveling in a vehicle that had exposed his penis to a ten-year-old girl while she was riding her bike along Segway and Locust Streets in the Township, the child provided a description of the man to Police Officers.
Again, on December 5, 2024, the Lakewood Township Police Department received another report regarding a black Sport Utility Vehicle following a 15-year-old girl in the area of Coleman Avenue and Milton Street in the Township. During the initial investigation, responding Police Officers determined that the teen girl was walking on Milton Street, during which the Sport Utility Vehicle followed closely behind her, stopping the vehicle whenever she stopped walking. The driver then sexually propositioned the girl before she ran into her residence as the vehicle sped off.
On December 12, 2024, the Lakewood Township Police Department again received another report of a man driving a black Sport Utility Vehicle who attempted to lure a 15-year-old girl into his vehicle in the area of Warren Avenue. Responding Police Officers learned that the girl was walking on Warren Avenue when a black Sport Utility Vehicle began driving slowly next to her. The driver of the vehicle rolled down the passenger’s side window and sexually propositioned her, who then ran away from the vehicle.
Once again, on January 5, 2025, the Lakewood Township Police Department received a report that a man driving a black Sport Utility Vehicle was following a 17-year-old girl in the area of Cushman Street in the Township. Responding Police Officers learned that the girl was walking along Cushman Street when the driver of the vehicle twice made sexual comments to her before speeding away from the area.
During the ongoing investigation, Detectives identified Marto as the owner and driver of the black Sport Utility Vehicle. On Thursday, Detectives filed the charges listed above, leading to Marto being taken into custody on Thursday.
“The rules of the court require us to include a statement that states: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations, and the defendant and or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.”
