Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More owner pleads guilty to sexual contact

The owner of Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More in the Howell Center Shopping Plaza on Route 9 has plead guilty to inappropriately touching several customers and employees inside his store, announced Monmouth County Prosecutor Chris Gramiccioni.

Brian Young, 53, plead guilty to third degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child and fourth degree Criminal Sexual Contact before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Dennis R. O’Brien.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Young faces three years in a New Jersey state prison when he returns for sentencing on January 10, 2020.

He will also be subject to the provisions of Megan’s Law and Parole Supervision for Life upon his release from prison.

A joint investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and Howell Police was launched in November 2018 after the HTPD received a report that the juvenile victim was inappropriately touched by Young while inside his business.

Following Young's arrest on November 9, 2018, five additional adult victims, who were customers and employees, disclosed Young had also inappropriately touched them at the business.

The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Danielle Zanzuccki.

Young is represented by Michael Pappa, Esq. of Hazlet.

Fishman PR, the media relations firm representing Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More, issued a statement following the guilty plea.

"We were notified that the Monmouth County Court has found a former franchise owner guilty on the counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child and fourth-degree criminal sexual contact.

With this being the first time we’ve dealt with this matter among the 90+ locations in our system, the news was truly saddening to hear. The safety and security of our customers and employees is of paramount importance.

We have strict rules and policies as it relates to background checks and work conduct. We will continue to require our franchise locations and corporate office to hold recruitment and screening processes to the highest standards to protect our customers."

More Jersey Shore News: