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TRENTON
– Attorney General Anne Milgram announced
that a Sussex Borough Department of Public
Works administrator has been indicted for
allegedly attempting to sexually assault a
person he believed to be a 14-year-old boy
whom he communicated with on the Internet.
The “boy” was actually an undercover
investigator with the Division of Criminal
Justice Computer Analysis and Technology Unit.
According
to Criminal Justice Director Deborah L. Gramiccioni,
Jeffrey Card, 49, of Sussex Borough, was indicted
yesterday (Nov. 16) by a state grand jury.
He was charged with three counts of second-degree
official misconduct, one count of second-degree
attempted sexual assault, five counts of third-degree
attempted endangering the welfare of a child,
five counts of fourth-degree attempted criminal
sexual contact, and one count of fourth-degree
possession of child pornography.
It
is alleged that on five occasions between
February and April 2005, Card communicated
with the “boy” on the Internet,
including three times when Card allegedly
used the computer in his Sussex Borough office.
Card allegedly sent online communications
in which he directed the “boy”
to perform sexual acts on himself.
On
April 27, 2005, the Division of Criminal Justice
executed a search warrant, arrested Card,
and seized computers from his home and his
office. A forensic examination allegedly revealed
child pornography on compact disks seized
from Card’s office. Card is currently
free on $50,000 bail.
The
investigation was coordinated by Deputy Attorney
General Kenneth R. Sharpe, who presented the
case to the state grand jury.
An
indictment is merely an accusation and the
defendant is presumed innocent until proven
guilty. Second-degree crimes carry a maximum
sentence of 10 years in state prison and a
fine of up to $150,000, while third-degree
crimes carry a maximum sentence of five years
in state prison and a fine of up to $15,000.
Fourth-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence
of 18 months in state prison and a fine of
up to $10,000.
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