Man Pleads Guilty In Child Predator Bust In Toms River in 2018
Richard Hoffman, 26, of Mays Landing
The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said Tuesday that an Atlantic County man has pled guilty to luring in connection with his arrest in a 2018 undercover operation in Toms River that resulted in 24 arrests.
Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said Richard Hoffman, 26, of Mays Landing, pled guilty on Monday before Superior Court Judge Guy P. Ryan. According to the notice, he will be sentenced on April 29 and will be compelled to register as a sex offender under Megan's Law, with an expected term of five years in jail.
OPERATION OPEN HOUSE 2018
Hoffman was arrested on Sept. 5, 2018, while working as a firefighter and a college student, as part of Operation Open House, a multi-agency undercover operation led by the New Jersey Department of Criminal Justice, the New Jersey Regional Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.
According to officials, the operation targeted men who were using the social networking apps Whispr and Kik to try to attract young girls and boys into sexual activities.
Hoffman thought he was conversing with a 14-year-old girl and set up a meeting with her at a home in Toms River to engage in sexual conduct, according to Billhimer. Hoffman was actually conversing with a Camden County Prosecutor's Office undercover detective.
Hoffman was detained on September 5, 2018, at the planned location in Toms River. According to authorities, he was detained and brought to the Ocean County Jail before being released as a result of New Jersey bail reform.
Billhimer expressed gratitude to a long range of law enforcement agencies for their assistance in the investigation that led to the guilty plea.
