77°
Quamel Benton, 36, pleaded guilty on Monday, Oct. 21 to attempted kidnapping, two counts of eluding, and criminal sexual contact, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release.
Lakewood police responded to a report of an attempted kidnapping near Forest Park Circle at around 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Mar. 21. Officers learned that a man tried to force the girl into a "smaller model" white SUV.
The girl was able to get away from the man and she ran back to her home. The man drove away but police were able to get a description of him and his vehicle.
At around 9 p.m., Toms River police responded to a report of a woman sexually assaulted in the Target parking lot on Hooper Avenue. Officers learned that a man approached the woman and "grabbed her in an inappropriate manner" before leaving the parking lot.
Officers spotted the man driving away and chased after him. He "erratically" drove onto the Garden State Parkway North and Toms River police stopped the pursuit.
After getting the vehicle's registration number, police identified Benton as the suspect. Officers also learned that he was wanted in an aggravated assault in Willingboro Township earlier in the day.
Toms River police then received a report of a man who tried to enter a woman's car at around 12:40 a.m. on Friday, Mar. 22. Officers identified Benton as the suspect and he led police on another chase.
Benton lost control of his SUV and crashed into a utility pole near the intersection of Route 70 and Whitesville Road. He tried to run away from the crash but police caught him and he was arrested.
Benton was also accused of hitting a woman in the head with a baseball bat with young children in the home. He was charged in Burlington County with attempted murder, aggravated assault, endangering an injured victim, and five counts of cruelty and neglect of children.
Benton has been held in the Burlington County Jail since his arrest. He was facing up to 13-and-a-half years in prison.
Sentencing was scheduled for Friday, Dec. 6.
Click here to follow Daily Voice East Windsor-Hightstown and receive free news updates.
