By: Yuritza Arroyo
On Thursday, June 1 Hector Soto, 50, of Minotola pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child (sexual conduct), as well as one count of third-degree possession of explicit images of minors stemming from his contact with a 13-year-old juvenile male in December of 2014.
According to officials, the plea agreement calls for an aggregate of six years in New Jersey State Prison.
Officials say Soto will be required to register under Megan’s Law and be required to be on parole supervision for life.
A search of Soto’s phone in 2019 revealed explicit photos of the victim at the age of 13 as well as photos of other juveniles.
According to authorities, the initial investigation was led by detectives from the Franklin Township Police Department.
The defendant will be sentenced at a later date pending an evaluation at the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Avenel.