NJ sex offender charged with sending explicit photos, videos to underage girls
TRENTON, N.J. (WTXF) - A registered sex offender from Burlington County faces new charges for allegedly sending sexually explicit content--including photos of his genitals and a video of himself masturbating--to underage girls and an undercover detective he believed was a 13-year-old girl.
Joseph Graber III, 48, of Marlton, N.J., was arrested Tuesday at his home and charged with endangering the welfare of a child and related offenses.
Prosecutors say one detective received private messages from Graber while she was monitoring a children's chatroom. Graber allegedly claimed to be a 16-year-old boy and asked the undercover detective sexually explicit questions before sending the detective a photo of his genitals.
Detectives linked the screen name to an IP address that was traced to Graber, a Tier 2 registered sex offender subject to parole supervision for life under Megan's Law.
Graber pleaded guilty in 2011 to attempted endangering the welfare of a child for sending a sexually explicit photo to another detective, who in that case was posing as a 12-year-old girl.
A search of devices seized from Graber's home revealed that he had sent similarly explicit photos and video of himself to actual underage girls.
"The allegations against Graber reveal a serial sexual predator who invaded a children's chat room to find vulnerable girls to exploit," said Attorney General Grewal. "Thankfully, an alert State Police detective identified him and initiated the joint investigation that led to these charges. We are continuously patrolling the internet to arrest sexual predators and prevent them from harming children."
"Cases like this one starkly illustrate the danger posed to children by sex offenders who use the anonymity of the internet to deceive and prey upon young victims," said Director Veronica Allende of the Division of Criminal Justice. "We urge parents to educate their children about these threats and monitor their children's use of the internet and social media."
The charges against Graber, all of the third degree, each carry a sentence of three to five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000.
Graber is currently being held in the Burlington County Jail on a parole detainer.