By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Atlantic County announced that on Monday, November 18, Gary M. Kearns, 56, of Brick, was sentenced to four years in New Jersey State Prison for the sexual assault of a woman he pursued via a dating website.
Kearns must serve at least 85 percent of the four-year sentence, which is subject to the No Early Release Act, before being eligible for parole, officials say.
Upon release, Atlantic City Police said, Kearns will be subject to parole supervision for life and registration pursuant to Megan’s Law.
Atlantic County officials said that on August 26, 2024, Kearns pleaded guilty to second-degree sexual assault.
Kearns admitted that in August of 2021, he had sexual intercourse with the victim, without her consent, in an Atlantic City hotel, Atlantic County officials stated.
According to Atlantic County authorities, Kearns met and courted the victim through Facebook dating, giving the victim a false name.
Kearns picked up the victim and drove her to Atlantic City under the pretense of going on a date, Atlantic City Police said. After he sexually assaulted the victim, he left her there, over an hour from her home.