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Francis Frobose, 26, of Hamilton, was charged with second-degree attempted kidnapping, second-degree attempted luring, second-degree attempted sexual assault and third-degree attempted endangering the welfare of a child, according to Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri.
Frobose was being held in the Mercer County Correction Center in Hopewell and a detention hearing is scheduled for this week, Onofri said.
In August, detectives with the prosecutor’s Internet Crimes Against Children Unit began an investigation into individuals attempting to use the internet to sexually exploit children.
Frobose was identified as a subject and began chatting online with detectives, Onofri said. More than 100 messages were exchanged between Frobose and detectives, the prosecutor said.
The complaint alleges Frobose described the sexual acts that were to be committed, arranged a meeting place and showed up to the location to pick up an individual he believed to be a 15-year-old girl and engage in the sexual conduct discussed.
On Thursday, detectives followed Frobose from his Hamilton home to the meeting location, where he was taken into custody without incident by officers with the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, Onofri said.
“I want the residents of Mercer County to know we are out there online, protecting our children,” Onofri said. "Thirty search warrants have been executed and 29 people have been charged, with more than 100,000 child pornography images and videos recovered.”
Onofri urged anyone with information about suspected improper contact by unknown persons communicating with children via the internet or possible exploitation or sexual abuse of children to contact his Internet Crimes Against Children Unit at 609-989-6568 or the New Jersey Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force tip line at 888-648-6007.
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