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ABSECON — A Philadelphia man was arrested Tuesday after he allegedly came to Heritage Park to meet a 15-year-old girl but was set up by an online “predator catcher.”
Nashiem Cephas-Lee, 23, was charged with luring, sexual assault, criminal attempt and endangering the welfare of a child, according to a criminal complaint filed against him by police. He was taken to the Atlantic County jail.
Cephas-Lee came to the park off Mill Road to meet a girl he was talking to over Grindr, an online dating app, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
Once at the park, he was approached by Cameron Decker, a man posing as the 15-year-old girl, doing so as a “predator catcher.” A video on Decker’s Facebook page recorded their encounter, revealing that the meeting with Cephas-Lee was set up.
Police later approached Cephas-Lee and arrested him.
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Decker came to police headquarters adjacent to the park to inform officers he was preparing to meet Cephas-Lee after they exchanged messages online, the affidavit states. He showed police screenshots of messages between him and Cephas-Lee, in which the 23-year-old intended to meet the girl for sex acts.
Cephas-Lee waived his Miranda rights while being questioned, admitting to meeting the girl at the park and intending to engage with her sexually, the affidavit states.
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