ALPHA BOROUGH, NJ (Warren County) – A 63-year-old Warren County man was arrested Thursday after allegedly having communication with a decoy posing as a 14-year-old girl, according to the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office.
On August 21, Phillipsburg Police Department received information from a cooperating witness that Paul Tedeschi of Alpha Borough was seeking an underage female to engage in sexual activity, authorities said.
During the investigation, it was learned that Tedeschi was seeking to perform sexual acts on a 14-year-old girl, prosecutor’s office said.
The Warren County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victim’s Unit and Phillipsburg Police Department initiated an undercover investigation, with the assistance of the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit.
On September 1, Tedeschi began to communicate with undercover officers from Warren County Prosecutor’s Office with the intent that he was communicating with a 14-year-old girl, authorities said.
During those communications, Tedeschi agreed to meet with the undercover officer at a predetermined location in Phillipsburg. He arrived at the location, his vehicle was stopped, and was taken into custody, prosecutor’s office said.
Tedeschi was charged with second-degree attempted luring, second-degree attempted sexual assault, third-degree attempted endangering the welfare of a child, and third-degree promoting prostitution. He remained lodged in the Warren County Jail and his first appearance in Warren County Superior Court was held on September 2, Pfeiffer said.
Warren County Prosecutor James L. Pfeiffer thanked the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victim’s Unit and Cyber Crimes Unit, the Phillipsburg Police Department, and the New Jersey State Police Internet Crimes Against Children and Trafficking Central Units, whose efforts contributed to this successful investigation.
