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Nicholas D. Coffin, 24, of West Deptford Township, allegedly contacted a 12-year-old girl via social media and offered to pay her for illicit photos and videos, according to the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office.
A Massachusetts police agency worked with the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office to investigate. West Deptford Police and New Jersey State Police also assisted.
A warranted search of Coffin’s home was made on Jan. 14 and he admitted owning a “suspect social media account” and “soliciting and receiving illicit pictures from other children," according to the prosecutor's office.
Coffin was charged with first-degree manufacturing child sexual abuse material and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child. H
He was being held in Salem County Correctional Facility pending a detention hearing.
Acting Gloucester County Prosecutor Christine A. Hoffman noted that kids are at greater risk from online predators during the ongoing pandemic.
“There is a heightened and understandable concern that abused children will be at home more often with their abusers and without contact with mandatory reporters such as teachers and counselors, who would normally be in a position to notice abuse indicators or be available to hear and report an outcry by a child,” Hoffman said in a statement.
Children also are spending more time online using social media, chatrooms and various gaming platforms.
“Each of these are prime online locations where sexual predators will attempt to solicit conversation with children for the purpose of enticing them for sexual purposes,” Hoffman said.
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