FORKED RIVER MAN CHARGED IN AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ASSAULT CASE

Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato and Lacey Township Police Chief Dave Paprota announced the arrest of PHILIP M. CAPUTO, 60, of Forked River, NJ, for 2 counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault, 1 count of Sexual Assault, and 2 counts of Attempted Sexual Assault.

The arrest stems from an investigation by Ocean County Prosecutor’s Special Victims Unit Detective Alex Bromley and Lacey Township Police Department Detective Brian Flynn. The investigation began on December 21, 2015, when the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Special Victims Unit was contacted by the first victim, a male, who alleged that Caputo sexually assaulted him in 1998 at the age of 12 on multiple occasions in Lacey Township and in Florida. In addition, as the investigation continued a second male victim alleged that Caputo attempted to sexually assault him from the age of 11 to 17. Further, a third male victim reported that Caputo allegedly sexually assaulted him at the age of 11. The investigation revealed each victim was known to Caputo at the time of the alleged offenses.

On Friday (4/1/2016) at 8:15am, the partnering detectives arrested Caputo at his 402 Musket Road residence on the above charges approved by Senior Assistant Prosecutor Terry Ann Linardakis. The Honorable Judge James M. Blaney set Caputo’s bail at $200,000 cash and imposed Nicole’s Law (no contact with the victim).

The media and public are reminded that criminal charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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