Morris County Man Charged with Seeking Sexual Encounter with 15-Year-Old

FREEHOLD – A Morris County man has been arrested and charged with seeking a sexual encounter with an undercover detective he thought was a 15-year-old girl, then endangering members of the public while fleeing the scene of what he thought would be a rendezvous with her, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced Friday.

Jeffrey Lanci, 50, of the Long Valley section of Washington Township, is charged with second-degree Eluding, second-degree Luring, third-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child, and fourth-degree Attempted Criminal Sexual Contact.  

An investigation by members of the MCPO High Tech Bureau revealed Lanci’s activities, which included contacting the aforementioned detective via social media and later sending sexually charged texts. On the date of their arranged meeting last month, Lanci arrived at the predetermined time and location in Freehold, then fled the scene, driving over grass and onto a local highway, nearly causing several collisions before a vehicular pursuit was terminated out of concern for the public’s safety.

Lanci was taken into custody at his home without incident later the same day and lodged in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution (MCCI), where he remains pending future proceedings in Monmouth County Superior Court after Judge Vincent N. Falcetano, Jr. granted the State’s motion to keep him detained.

Anyone with information about Lanci’s activities is being urged to contact Detective Anthony Lacher at 732-431-7160, Ext. 8570. A photo of Lanci is being distributed along with this news release.

This case is being prosecuted by MCPO Assistant Prosecutor William Visone. Lanci is being represented by Thomas Huth, Esq.

Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.