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Hector Soto of Minotola pleaded guilty on Thursday, June 1 to endangering the welfare of a child (sexual conduct), as well as possession of exploitive images of children, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said.
The charges stem from his contact with a 13-year-old boy in December 2014, the prosecutor said.
The plea agreement calls for six years in New Jersey State Prison, the prosecutor said.
Additionally, Soto will be required to register as a sex offender under Megan’s Law and be required to be on parole supervision for life.
A search of Soto’s phone in 2019 revealed explicit photos of the victim at the age of 13 as well as photos of other juveniles, the prosecutor said.
The initial investigation was led by detectives from the Franklin Township Police Department.
The defendant will be sentenced at a later date pending an evaluation at the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Avenel, the prosecutor said.
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