Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato announced that Philip Caputo, 62, of Forked River pled guilty before Judge Therese A. Cunningham, J.S.C. to one count of Sexual Assault 2nd degree and one count of Attempted Sexual Assault 2nd degree for sexual contact upon two male juveniles under the ages of 13 dating back from 1997 and 1998.
The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant Prosecutor Kristin Pressman.
The guilty plea 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.
The investigation revealed each victim was known to Caputo at the time of the alleged offenses.
Caputo was arrested on April 1, 2016 by the partnering detectives at his 402 Musket Road residence on charges approved by Senior Assistant Prosecutor Terry Ann Linardakis.
The Honorable Judge James M. Blaney set Caputo’s bail at that time at $200,000 cash and imposed no contact with the victims. He remains free on bail pending his sentencing that will be set after an Avenel evaluation.
The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office is encouraging any other victims to contact Det. Alexander Bromley of the Prosecutor’s Special Victims Unit at 732-929-2027.