WILDWOOD — Members of the city’s uniformed patrol division responded to a call at a local residence, Thur. March 22 at approximately 8 p.m., to investigate a report of obscene electronic messages being sent to a 13-year-old female by an adult male.
Wildwood detectives, along with the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes Unit, conducted a follow-up investigation that resulted in John A. Denicola, Jr. being identified as a suspect.
During the course of their continuing investigation, members of the detective division, acting as the 13-year-old female, engaged in electronic communications with the suspect.
Denicola, believing he was communicating with the 13-year-old female victim, engaged in sexually suggestive conversations and transmitted obscene images via cell phone. Denicola eventually arranged to meet the victim for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity.
Upon his arrival at the arranged meeting location, detectives arrested Denicola.
Denicola, 20, a student residing in Wildwood, was charged with attempted sexual assault, luring or enticing a child, two counts of obscenity for persons under 18 and endangering the welfare of a child.
Full cash bail was set at $75,000, with the condition of no contact with the victim.
Denicola is currently being lodged in the Cape May County Correctional Facility in lieu of bail.
