My 16 year old foster brother is hooking up with a man he met over the internet. He does not know his name, nor has he been talking to him for very long. (maybe 2-3 weeks) Is there an age difference statute which would make this relationship illegal in NJ? If not, what legal options would I have to keep them apart? I think he is an internet predator, and I fear for my foster brothers safety. He literally knows nothing about this man.

How to Report a Crime or Suspicion of a Crime Against Children In New Jersey

If you wish to report an instance of child endangerment and the suspect or victim lives in the State of New Jersey,
Please utilize the Computer Crimes Task Force Hotline 1-888-648-6007

On the web please visit the New Jersey State Police Cyber Crimes Unit

The New Jersey Cyber-Crimes Unit (CCU) is composed of State Police enlisted detectives, civilian analysts, and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents. The CCU has one investigative squad and a second squad dedicated to the FBI Regional Computer Forensic Laboratory (RCFL).

You should also report this activity your foster parent or legal guardian immediately. If you are the legal guardian of your brother, you have certain protective rights just as a parent.

You may also contact New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault Hotline and speak to a counselor. 1-800-601-7200 This call is FREE and it's confidential. They may also be be able to help you on more local level.

Please advise your brother that he should not trust, or attempt to meet with this man under any circumstances. He could be putting his safety or his life at risk.

N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:13-6. Luring, enticing child by various means, attempts; crime of second
degree; subsequent offense, mandatory imprisonment.

A person commits a crime of the second degree if he attempts, via electronic or any other means, to lure or entice a child or one who he reasonably believes to be a child into a motor vehicle, structure or isolated area, or to meet or appear at any other place, with a purpose to commit a criminal offense with or against the child.

"Child" as used in this act means a person less than 18 years old.

"Electronic means" as used in this section includes, but is not limited to, the Internet, which shall have the meaning set forth in N.J.S.2C:24-4.

"Structure" as used in this act means any building, room, ship, vessel or airplane and also means any place adapted for overnight accommodation of persons, or for carrying on business therein, whether or not a person is actually present.
Nothing herein shall be deemed to preclude, if the evidence so warrants, an indictment and conviction for attempted
kidnapping under the provisions of N.J.S.2C:13-1.

A person convicted of a second or subsequent offense under this section or a person convicted under this section who has previously been convicted of a violation of N.J.S.2C:14-2, subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:14-3 or N.J.S.2C:24-4 shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (2) of subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:43-6, the term of imprisonment shall include, unless the person is sentenced pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.2C:43-7, a mandatory minimum term of one-third to onehalf of the sentence imposed, or three years, whichever is greater, during which time the defendant shall not be eligible for parole. If the person is sentenced pursuant to N.J.S.2C:43-7, the court shall impose a minimum term of one-third to one-half of the sentence imposed, or five years, whichever is greater.

The court may not suspend or make any other non-custodial disposition of any person sentenced as a second or subsequent offender pursuant to this section. For the purposes of this section ,an offense is considered a second or subsequent offense or a previous conviction of N.J.S.2C:14-2, subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:14-3 or N.J.S.2C:24-4, as the case may be, if the actor has at any time been convicted pursuant to this section, or under any similar statute of the United States, this State or any other state for an offense that is substantially equivalent to this section or substantially equivalent to N.J.S.2C:14-2, subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:14-3 or N.J.S.2C:24-4.