FREEHOLD – A 52-year old male business owner in Howell has been arrested for sexual assault after inappropriate contact with a customer who was a minor, announced Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.
Police say Mr. Brian Young, 52, the owner of Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More, located in the Howell Center Shopping Plaza on Route 9, was arrested and charged Friday, November 9th, with second degree Sexual Assault and third degree Endangering the Welfare of a Minor.
According to officials, an investigation was launched after Howell Township Police Department received a report that the victim, who is a minor, was inappropriately touched by Young while inside his business.
The case is a joint investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and the Howell Township Police Department.
Investigators are seeking additional information about Young’s activities and are looking to identify other possible victims. Anyone with any information, please contact Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Thomas Manzo Jr. at 800-533-7443 or Howell Township Police Department Detective Robert Ortenzi at 732-938-4111.
If convicted of second degree Sexual Assault, Young faces a maximum of 10 years in a New Jersey state prison, subject to the No Early Release Act (NERA), which requires the defendant to serve 85% of the sentence before he is eligible for release. If convicted of third-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Minor, Young faces a maximum of 5 years of incarceration. Should Young be convicted of either crime, he will be subject to the provisions of Megan’s Law and to Parole Supervision for Life.
The defendant remains incarcerated at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, pending his first appearance.
The case has been assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Danielle Zanzuccki.
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 United States Constitution and State law.