STANHOPE BOROUGH, N.J. (Sussex County) — A Sussex County man has been convicted of attempting to commit sexual offenses against someone he believed was a minor, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced Wednesday.
Larry M. Noel, 49, of Stanhope, was found guilty of second-degree luring, second-degree attempted sexual assault, and third-degree attempted endangering the welfare of a child following a trial before Superior Court Judge Christopher R. Kazlau in Bergen County.
“Sexual crimes and attempts against children are among the most difficult but important matters our office has to deal with—these operations protect children and that’s why we take part in them,” Attorney General Platkin said. “Thanks to the excellent work of our Division of Criminal Justice, the New Jersey State Police, and our local law enforcement partners, we have convicted another predator.”
DCJ Director Theresa L. Hilton emphasized the risks posed by online platforms.
“The easy access and anonymity afforded by the internet can make it a dangerous place for our children,” Hilton said. “The conviction we are announcing today shows our resolve in bringing these defendants to justice.”
New Jersey State Police Superintendent Colonel Patrick J. Callahan said Noel’s conduct posed “a grave threat to our most vulnerable.”
“This conviction makes one thing unmistakably clear: anyone who attempts to harm a child or endanger their welfare will be held fully accountable,” Callahan said. “Thanks to the unwavering dedication of our detectives and the strong coordination among our law enforcement partners, this individual has been stopped and brought to justice.”
According to trial evidence, Noel began communicating on April 11, 2019, with an undercover officer posing as a 14-year-old on a social media app. Noel claimed to be 29 and asked to meet for sexual activity. He traveled to a predetermined meeting location in Bergen County, where he was arrested.
The case was part of “Operation Home Alone,” a statewide undercover effort targeting online child predators. The operation was conducted by the New Jersey Regional Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which includes the Division of Criminal Justice, New Jersey State Police, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, and agencies across multiple levels of law enforcement.
