POINT PLEASANT – A Brick man attempting to get child care work was instead arrested and charged with forgery, among other charges.
Lance Bennette, 22, of Brick, on Jan. 18 was charged with three counts of third-degree forgery, one count of fourth-degree theft of identity, one count of third-degree tampering with public records, and one count of fourth-degree stolen valor.
Point Pleasant Borough Police launched an investigation into Bennette after receiving a complaint from a resident that the man was possibly using forged and fake documents to gain employment.
Det. Lt. Adam Picca and Det. Chris Henrich investigated.
“These charges were a result of an investigation alleging that Mr. Bennette used forged and fictitious documents that purported to be the act of US military officials, who did not authorize or have any knowledge of these documents. These documents were distributed to a few Point Pleasant residents as Mr. Bennette was soliciting to perform child care for these residents,” Point Pleasant Borough Police Capt. Robert Lokerson said. “The documents indicated that Mr. Bennette was currently in the military and was required to complete family care hours as a requirement of this military program. It is alleged that Mr. Bennette used these fraudulent documents with purpose to instill trust with the local parents so that he could be considered to care for their children.”
Bennette is being held at Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.
