FREEHOLD – An Ocean Township man was arrested for luring and endangering the welfare of a child, announced Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.
Barton Cross-Tierney 2nd, 29, of Franklin Avenue in Ocean Township was charged with second degree Luring, two counts of second degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child for Debauching the Morals of a Child, and two counts of third degree Promoting Obscenity to a Minor.
Throughout 2018, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office received multiple Cybertips regarding a participant of Discord, an online chat platform that allows for text exchanges, voice communications and video chats, engaging in inappropriate conversations with underage girls. In December 2018, a juvenile female contacted the FBI tipline and reported that she had engaged in an inappropriate online relationship with an adult male from Ocean, NJ, with the Discord username “Barton Cross.” An investigation revealed that Barton Cross committed sexual acts while in a video chat with the juvenile victim.
A subsequent investigation conducted by members of Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Computer Crimes Unit, the Ocean Township Police department, members of the ICAC Task Force, and the FBI determined “Barton Cross” to be Barton C. Cross-Tierney, of Franklin Parkway in Ocean Township, NJ.
If convicted of the 3rd degree crimes, Cross-Tierney faces a sentence of up to 5 years in New Jersey state prison on each charge. If convicted of the 2nd degree crime, Cross-Tierney faces a sentence of up to 10 years in New Jersey state prison.
Despite this arrest, law enforcement authorities continue to seek names of other potential victims that belonged to the Discord group created by Barton Cross.
Anyone with additional information about this case is asked to contact Detective Tiffany Lenart of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 1-800-533-7443, or the FBI in Newark at 973-792-3000.
Anyone who feels the need to remain anonymous but has information about a crime can contact Monmouth County Crime Stoppers confidential telephone tip-line by calling 1-800-671-4400; can text “MONMOUTH” plus their tip to 274637; or, they can email a tip via the website at www.monmouthcountycrimestoppers.com. Monmouth County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of criminals and fugitives.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Stephanie Dugan.
Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.
