A Barnegat Township man who police say allegedly offered an 11-year old girl candy and a wine cooler if she would lift up her shirt and let him grope her has been arrested and charged with attempted sexual assault.

Jesse Christiansen of Barnegat. (Ocean County Prosecutors Office)
Jesse Christiansen of Barnegat. (Ocean County Prosecutors Office)
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It was the Ocean County Sheriff's Office who received a call of an attempted sexual assault on September 13 around 9 pm involving an 11-year old girl.

An ensuing investigation by Barnegat Police Detective William Hetrick and Ocean County Prosecutor Special Victims Detective Stephanie Bayha found that 35-year old Jesse Christiansen allegedly made the inappropriate offer.

She said no and immediately told her mother about what happened.

Following his arrest on September 14, Jesse's now been charged with Attempted Sexual Assault and Endangering the Welfare of a Child.

Senior Assistant Prosecutor Christine Lento reviewed the investigation and approved the above charges.

Christiansen is being held on those charges along with an outstanding warrant for shoplifting.

It hasn't been noted where the incident allegedly took place.

The public is reminded that criminal charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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