LAKEWOOD – A man was charged with exposing himself to girls in Lakewood – the second such arrest this month.
Michael Marto, 28, of Tuckerton, was charged with Sexual Assault, Luring, Lewdness, and four counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
Police said that on November 24, 2024, a 10-year-old girl riding a Segway on Locust Street reported that a man in a vehicle exposed his penis to her.
On December 5, 2024, Lakewood Township Police were contacted because a black sport utility vehicle was seen following a 15-year-old girl in the area of Coleman Avenue and Milton Street. Police learned that the vehicle drove closely behind her and would stop whenever she would stop walking. The driver then sexually propositioned the victim. She ran into her residence and the SUV sped away.
On December 12, 2024, Lakewood Police received another report of a man attempting to lure a 15-year-old girl into his black SUV in the area of Warren Avenue. Similar to the previous case, police learned that the SUV drove slowly next to her. The driver rolled down the passenger’s side window and sexually propositioned the victim, who then ran from the scene.
On January 5, 2025, Lakewood Police again received a report of a man in a black SUV following a 17 year-old girl in the area of Cushman Street. Police learned that as the victim was walking on Cushman Street, the driver of the SUV twice made sexual comments to her before speeding away.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said that the investigation led to Marto, who was arrested on February 20.
Billhimer commended the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Squad, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Lakewood Township Police Department, Little Egg Harbor Township Police Department, Tuckerton Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, for their combined and collective assistance in connection with this investigation.
Charges are merely accusations until proven in a court of law.
