No day at the beach

OCEAN COUNTY, N.J. - We’ve been catching suspected Internet sex predators for more than three years, exposing men on the hunt for sex with young teens. More than 200 men have been arrested.

After 11 investigations in eight different states, a 117 men have either pleaded guilty or been found guilty by a judge or jury.

Yet there are still men out there willing to take the risk of getting caught. It seems no matter where in America we go, we find men apparently ready to molest young teens.

During our latest investigation in Ocean County, New Jersey, it’s no different. Men familiar with our reports show up anyway. It's a beautiful stretch of beach and a picture-perfect summer vacation spot for parents and children. But it's also for potential predators.

Michael Lubrano: You’re Chris Hansen?

Chris Hansen: I am. 

One who actually appears happy to meet me...

Jeremy Keister: It’s nice to meet you.

Chris Hansen: Thank you.  (laughter)

And one not so happy...

Chris Hansen: I’m Chris Hansen with Dateline NBC.

Kazuo Akutsu: (Man runs into bar)

And for the first time, men tell our decoy in person what they want to do to her sexually. 

Daily: Hold you.  Kiss you.  Touch you.  You know, try to get you excited.

James Marcott: A lot of kissing, caressing. (laughs)

We’re operating out of this multi-million dollar house on the Jersey shore. On the top floor, members of Perverted Justice—the online watchdog group which we’ve hired as consultants—are in local chat rooms posing as young teens.

Pibb: It’s so nice outside I want to sit out on the beach.

The Perverted Justice frags have set up profiles of girls and boys ages 12 to 14. Some Perverted Justice members in the house and others on computers across the country are waiting in chat rooms to be hit on by adults.  Perverted-Justice says its decoys never make the first contact. Once a man solicits sex, the decoy will agree and invite the man over. 

Frag, Perverted-Justice: He should be here within 45.

Waiting in the detached garage are officers from the Ocean County prosecutors office.  They have teamed up with Perverted Justice to conduct this operation. Prosecutor Tom Kelaher was open to outside assistance for his computer sex crimes unit.

Tom Kelaher, prosecutor: We only have four people in that unit. And if we could get help—the—met our standards, we’d be happy to work with them and welcome that kind of help.

The prosecutor admits in the beginning he was concerned about working with Perverted Justice.

Kelaher, prosecutor: Well, we had heard some criticism from some—s—official—sources—as a matter of fact.  And that’s why at first I was reluctant.  But, after we did our due diligence, I was satisfied to go ahead with it.

A total of 11 cameras have been hidden outside. The moment a man drives into the neighborhood, his every move is recorded. As he pulls up to the house, gets out of his car, approaches the door, even if he goes to the front of the house—cameras will be watching.  And if he goes into the house another six cameras have been installed inside. We’ve hired 18-year-old Casey to play the part of the young teen home alone.

Decoy: Hey!

Stewart: Hey!

Decoy: There you are.

She’s five-foot-two and weighs 95 pounds.

Decoy: You want to just go check out the beach first?

Stewart: Yeah, sure.

Meet 44-year-old Gregory Stewart, screen name whosurdaddynj. He’s a credit and collections consultant who drove an hour-and-a-half to get here. He thinks Casey is the 13-year-old girl he’s been chatting with online—the girl whose virginity he planned on taking.

(chat transcript)

Whosurdaddynj: mmm, once were naked in bed we can do all kindsa stuff

Decoy: really? Wat kinda stuff?

Whosurdaddynj: rub our bodies together and feel how excited each other are.

Decoy: lol ya never gone allway before lol

Whosurdaddynj: ill make it nice for you.

The decoy asked "whosurdaddynj" to bring some pizza.  He said he’d bring her favorite flavor: Supreme with pineapple.

Decoy: I turned around to walk up the beach, and all of a sudden, I hear him coming a lot faster than he should be.  I turn around, and he’s like running up the dune … It looked like he was going to start chasing me, so that almost scared me the most.

But Casey knew that security was close by and ready to protect her. Once they’re sitting, it’s fine.  They’re not getting up out of the beach chair.   He tells Casey he brought her the presents he mentioned online.

Decoy (hidden camera footage): So you brought pizza?

Gregory Stewart: Yeah. The supreme with pineapple.

Decoy: Oh, yes.  That’s my favorite.

And he brought one more thing.

Decoy: Did you bring the condoms or anything?

Stewart: Yeah, I did …  They’re in my coat.

Decoy: They’re in your coat? Ok … So I see you like younger girls?

Stewart: Yeah.

Decoy: Yeah?

Now it was time for this consultant to meet someone closer to his own age.

Chris Hansen: What kind of consulting is going on today?

Stewart: Nothing.

Chris Hansen: Nothing, huh? What’s happening?

Stewart: Just getting ready to go.

Chris Hansen: What were you doing here though?

Stewart: Nothing.  I just came down to hang out, that’s all.

Chris Hansen: Just to hang out.

Stewart: Yeah, I’m not going to do anything I’ll leave, right now.

Chris Hansen: How old are you?

Stewart: I’m 35.

Chris Hansen: 35? You want to try again?

Stewart: 44.

Chris Hansen: 44.

Stewart: Yeah.

Chris Hansen: You talk about oral sex with the girl.

Stewart: No I—sir—we never—

Chris Hansen: Well, no?  It’s right here.

It appears whosurdadynj is not familiar with our “To Catch a Predator” broadcasts and thinks I’m with law enforcement.

Stewart: Please don’t arrest me.  Please, I swear to god.  Please.

Chris Hansen: I mean these are your words.

Stewart: I know. I’m so embarrassed … Please I’m—please I’m really a good guy.  Please, I swear I will never do this again.

Chris Hansen: Well why—what’s a good guy doing here trying to—have a sexual liaison with a 13-year-old girl?

Stewart: I—I—I don’t know, sir.

Chris Hansen: ‘I’d love to feel how warm I can make you feel all over.’

Stewart: All right, maybe I have a problem.  Maybe I need to go get—go see a psychiatrist, like a counselor.  I’m a very lonely guy.  I don’t have a girlfriend. I know it’s wrong.                  

Chris Hansen: Well Greg, what do you think ought to happen to you?

Stewart: Please, if you let me go, I swear—you can have the—the pizza, whatever I brought down.

Chris Hansen: Oh, you’re going to give me the pizza?

Stewart: No.

Chris Hansen: What a—what a—what a pal you are.

Stewart: No, I swear.  I’ll go home, I’ll get help.

Hansen: I mean you know you could get in trouble for this right?

Stewart: I know, I know.

Hansen: You know it’s illegal, right?

Stewart: Yes, I know … I’m a very religious person. I’m—you know—

Chris Hansen: You’re a religious person?

Stewart: I am. I’m a very good family person.  I’m very close to my family. My mother’s very sick.

Chris Hansen: Well why aren’t you hanging out with your mother as opposed to trying to have sex with a 13-year-old girl?

Stewart: Right I—I don’t—

Chris Hansen: Is that—explain to me how religious that is?

Stewart: I know there’s something wrong.

Here’s the part where I tell him I’m Chris Hansen with Dateline NBC and give him a chance to respond.

Stewart: I have nothing else to say.

Hansen: Then obviously you’re—you’re free to go.

Stewart: Thank you.

Free to go—but not very far. Officers have moved into position and are ready to arrest him.

Del from Perverted Justice hands over the chat logs to the arresting officers. 

Cops: Got anything on you?

Stewart: What, drugs?

Cops: Spread your feet.

The suspect is then taken away in an unmarked car to a local police station and brought in for questioning.

This is just one of the many men who will be arrested here in New Jersey over the next three-and-a-half days. 

Dwayne: So, when do I get to see myself on TV?

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