A man who works for a company that produces high school football highlight videos was charged Friday with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old boy he met on a social media website.
Ethan Chandler faces charges of sexual assault and criminal sexual contact, Attorney General Christopher Porrino said. The sexual assault charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison upon conviction.
The 42-year-old Belleville resident tried to convince an undercover agent posing as a 13-year-old boy to have sex and was arrested earlier this month and charged with luring a child, authorities said. He posted bail after the initial arrest, but investigators searching his computer and cellphone discovered evidence of his involvement with the 14-year-old, the attorney general's office said. He was re-arrested on Wednesday.
Chandler had sexual contact with the 14-year-old at least three times at his home, authorities said.
"Parents need to recognize that a sexual predator could be preying on their children even as they sit next to each other on the sofa, seemingly safe at home," said Col. Rick Fuentes, superintendent of the state police. "Parents need to do their part by monitoring their children's online activity on any devices that they have access to."
Chandler works for a company that films sports events at schools across the region and posts weekly highlights packages of high school football on YouTube, the attorney general's office said.
Chandler previously pleaded guilty to a disorderly persons offense after he was discovered in a bathroom at the Livingston Mall in 2014 kissing a young man he said he believed was a minor.
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He was being held on $200,000 bail at the Essex County Jail. An attorney representing him declined to comment when reached Friday.
