Mount Olive NJ police recently arrested a local man accused of trying to lure an underage girl into his truck.

According to law enforcement, the suspect, who lives in the Budd Lake section of Mount Olive, targeted the 15-year-old victim while she walked along Route 46 near Netcong Road. The suspect allegedly pulled up alongside the victim and asked her if she wanted to get into his truck.

When the girl refused to get into the vehicle, the suspect allegedly followed her. The suspect reportedly left the area after the victim called her mother.

Once the victim’s mother learned what happened, she contacted the Mount Olive Police Department.

Mount Olive police arrived at the scene a short time later and investigated. Police officers searched the area and eventually located the suspect’s truck, a silver 2003 Ford F-150 pick-up.

The suspect was placed under arrest and charged with second degree luring.

If the suspect is convicted on the luring charges, he faces significant penalties. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:13-6, anyone who attempts to lure or entice a child into a motor vehicle can be charged with a second degree felony. A conviction for second degree luring could result in a sentence of 5-10 years in NJ State Prison.

After being arrested and charged, the suspect was taken to the Morris County Correctional Facility in Morristown, New Jersey. He was being held at the facility in lieu of a $100,000 bail amount.

Mount Olive police are actively investigating the alleged sex crime. Anyone who has information about the suspect or the incident is asked to call the Mount Olive Township Police Investigations division at 973-691-0900 ext. 7203.

For additional information about this case, view the NJ.com article entitled “25-Year-Old Man Accused of Trying to Lure Teen Girl into Truck.”