Isn't this engaging in prostitution?

The girl was 16 and consented. So I don't see the basis of a charge.

Quote:

Sounds like our illustrious State of New Jersey has some conflicting laws.

How can a person of age of consent be also considered a child?

A child cannot give consent, right?

My guess is that the opportunistic lowlife will walk, and he will successfully sue JCPD for lost wages and damages.

Nothing ever surprises me anymore. The cops in this country are out of control.

FAB is right.

Pretty soon the yearly number of JC cops involved in "incidents" could outnumber the yearly JC homicide rate.

We must have exceeded our quota of stupid, dumb-ass cops working for JC by now.
The ratio of good cop - bad cop must be pretty bad with the JCPD

What's the bet that in Court, this cop will have an outstanding track record, great community involvement, even blessed by god himself and he was on some sort of medication (or drunk) and that it was the first time of such behavior

(It appears, sadly, that he will not also be charged as a predator because the age of consent in NJ is 16. He is being charged with child abuse - JM.)

From NJ.com

LINK TO ARTICLE

An off-duty Jersey City police officer was arrested today on charges he offered to pay for a room for a 16-year-old girl in exchange for oral sex, officials said.

The cop, Marcos Kelly, 44, of North Arlington, was arrested after the girl got scared and called a friend from the North Bergen motel, reports said.

"The allegations are serious and disturbing," said Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio of the charges against Kelly, the South District police officer who is charged with child abuse. DeFazio described the girl as "alone on the street" and said Kelly "feigned helping her" to entice her.

At about 12:30 a.m. Sunday, Kelly was on Kennedy Boulevard in Jersey City when he picked the girl up and offered "to provide her with a motel room in exchange for the victim performing oral sex," the criminal complaint says.

Sources said he told the girl to get down and stay out of side as he drover her into the Lincoln Tunnel Motel on Tonnelle Avenue and then registered under an assumed name when he paid for their room.

At some point the 16-year-old became frightened and phoned a friend and police became involved, DeFazio said.

North Bergen police responded, followed by Jersey City police and the case was then referred to the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office Special Victims Unit, the prosecutor said.

The charges were filed against Kelly based on the "sworn statement of the victim and physical evidence located at the Lincoln Tunnel Motel," the complaint says.

"After reviewing the case and consulting with the prosecutor, I deemed it necessary to suspend the officer without pay immediately," Jersey City Police Chief Tom Comey said of Kelly.

When Kelly appeared in Central Judicial Processing court this afternoon he was wearing white sneakers, blue jeans and a gray sweater, with a jacket draped over his hands which were cuffed behind his back.

His bail was set at $2,500 with a 10 percent option and he was expected to post bail after the hearing.

"Mr. Kelly maintains his innocence and denies the allegations," said his attorney, John Young, after the hearing.

Sixteen is the age of consent in New Jersey. Because the girl was 16-years-old, no sex changes were filed, said DeFazio, adding that when the matter is presented to a grand jury, additional charges may be considered.

Kelly became a Jersey City police officer in July 2005, Comey said.

DeFazio asks anyone with information in the matter to call the Special Victims Unit at (201) 915-1234.