New Jersey State Police Officer Charged with Attempted Sexual Assault on Minors

Brick community

By: Richard L. Smith

A New Jersey State Police trooper has been charged with attempting to arrange a sexual encounter and obtain sexually explicit images of a child, Monmouth County District Attorney Raymond S. Santiago announced Tuesday.

Trooper Shane H. Dempsey, 31, of Brick Township, Ocean County, faces multiple charges, including attempted second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor by permitting a child to produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM), attempted second-degree prostitution, attempted second-degree seduction, attempted second-degree sexual assault, and attempted third-degree endangering the welfare of a minor by engaging in sexual conduct.

The investigation began earlier this year when Dempsey contacted an undercover prosecutor who worked at the social media app Whisper.

Believing he was communicating with a 14-year-old girl, Dempsey allegedly requested sexually explicit images and expressed a desire to pay for a sexual act.

Dempsey was taken into custody without incident yesterday in Ewing, Mercer County, and transported to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution (MCCI) pending the outcome of proceedings in Monmouth County Superior Court.

The Monmouth County District Attorney’s Office thanked the New Jersey State Police Office of Professional Standards, the Ocean County District Attorney’s Office and the Brick Township Police Department for their assistance in the investigation and arrest.

Anyone with additional information regarding Dempsey’s activities is asked to contact MCPO Detective Anthony Lacher at 800-533-7443.