HOWELL – A Whiting man has been arrested and charged with eight counts of harassment following complaints from female victims in Howell, according to Howell Township Police.
David F. Hohsfield, 62, was arrested on May 9 after complaints surfaced from women and their daughters, some as young as 8 years old, that Hohsfield allegedly followed them around stores making sexually explicit comments.
Hohsfield was also found to be a Tier 3 registered sex offender, according to the New Jersey State Police Sex Offender Internet Registry. He was charged with eight counts of harassment, one per victim, and these charges are considered fourth degree crimes because of his status as a parolee.
On May 4, a mother and her 12-year old daughter reported to police a man following them around the Target in Howell. Police reported that Hohsfield was seen following the daughter in the swimsuit section making sexually explicit comments, while pretending to be talking via bluetooth. By the time the girl told her mother and they reached security, Hohsfield had left.
A similar incident happened on the same day at the Howell TJ Maxx, near the Target. A woman with her 11-year old daughter witnessed Hohsfield making vulgar comments. The incident was reported after the woman learned of the previous incident at Target via social media.
Not only this, but two incidents, involving women and their daughters (ages 12 and 8) reported being followed around the Walmart and Target in Howell.
Since his arrest, Hohsfield has been transferred to the Monmouth County Correctional Institute.
Howell Police ask anyone who has not reported an incident like this to the police to contact Detective Sergeant Christian Antunez #243 at cantunez@howellpolice.org, Det. Janet Benitez #627 at jbenitez@howellpolice.org or by calling Howell Police headquarters at 732-938-4111.
