HOWELL – A Howell Police Department sergeant charged with attempted luring of a child was conditionally released from jail over the objection of the Office of the New Jersey Attorney General.
The New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice has charged Richard Conte, 47, with second degree attempted luring or enticing of a child. Conte was arrested on Sept. 6 by officers of the Toms River Police Department in Seaside Heights, Ocean County. He was released from custody several days later following a detention hearing.
Conte allegedly communicated using social media with an individual he believed to be a 15-year-old girl, requesting that she meet him for sexual activity. The “girl” was in fact an undercover detective, said Peter Aseltine, a spokesman with the state Attorney General’s Office. He is being prosecuted by the the Division of Criminal Justice.
Conte was released from the Ocean County Jail, Toms River, on a level three-plus home detention, according to his attorney, Barry Serebnick. He is allowed to leave his home for medical appointments, court and legal matters.
Conte is prohibited from using the internet and is not allowed to have unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 18, Serebnick said.
He must undergo a psychological assessment and follow recommendations, but none of the information generated by the assessment will be used by the state for any purpose. He must relinquish all personal and professional firearms, according to the attorney.
Conte must appear at all court appearances and update the courts regarding any changes in his address and/or phone number. He must not commit any new offense and must report by telephone every other week, and in person on the weeks when he does not report by telephone, Serebnick said.
On Sept. 14, Serebnick said Conte was in compliance with all the conditions of his release.
Conte was not on duty at the time of his arrest, according to Howell Police Chief Andrew Kudrick. He has been suspended from duty without pay, the chief said.
