Brookfielder Arrested in New Jersey for Alleged Attempted Sexual Assault
James Briggs, of Brookfield, allegedly attempted to make contact with an eight-year-old New Jersey girl.
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Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli announced the arrest of James E. Briggs, 28, of 12 Woodcreek Road, Brookfield. Briggs, was arrested on charges of luring, attempted aggravated sexual assault and attempted endangering the welfare of a minor, specifically by traveling to Bergen County, NJ, from Connecticut for the purpose of having sexual intercourse with an eight-year-old female. Briggs was arrested on January 20, 2011, without incident.
The arrest came about as a result of an investigation conducted by members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Computer Crimes Task Force, under the direction of Chief Steven Cucciniello.
The arrest stemmed from an Internet investigation in which James Briggs used the Internet to make arrangements to meet an eight-year-old child.
Prosecutor Molinelli stated that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Prosecutor Molinelli would like to thank the Upper Saddle River Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Fanning, for their assistance with this investigation and arrest.
Wendy Mitchell
7:01 pm on Thursday, January 20, 2011
How did he "make contact" with the 8-year-old? Through Webkinz? Or another children's website?Did he pose as another 8-year-old? Any additional info would help parents to be able to better protect their kids online.
DIANE MOTTOLA
11:35 am on Sunday, January 23, 2011
rest asured my friend James did not do this dastardly deed. I have kown him for years (20) just not capable of it but I like your question How do we better protect our young ones? If you get any info please forward it to me thanks. some good will come of this what I dont know but it will be because of James and thats just like him risking for others. and if he saves 1 little girl from a horrible event he would do it thanks for listening diane in ct
DIANE MOTTOLA
11:22 am on Sunday, January 23, 2011
If you do not know Mr. James Briggs personally you have no right to judge him on one side of the story. If you do know Mr. Briggs then you also know that this is an outrageously mistaken series of events set in place by some who should be looking for the REAL creeps out there.
There is NO way that James would even attempt to have a relationship with an 8 year old. He is a respectful, honest, upright, law abiding citizen of our community. I have watched him grow from a young boy into a fine young man. I support him in all his endeavors. I am speaking from the deapths of my soul as loudly as I can
JAMES BRIGGS IS INOCENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Watcher
1:14 pm on Tuesday, March 15, 2011
he innocently talked with an 8 year old then innocently drove to Jersey where he was detained and arrested? & you knowing him personally for 20 years shows his innocence?
Sounds biased, and i'm sorry your "outstanding honest community citizen" is a pervert and will soon be knocking on all the doors in the community and telling them that (court ordered of course).
Wendy Mitchell
1:15 pm on Sunday, January 23, 2011
Hi Diane,
Thanks for your comments. I was not judging him- I was asking how we can better protect our children from online predators. My first thought when I read this was "What parent would let their 8-year-old" surf the net unsupervised & my next thought when I realized it was a police officer impersonating an 8-year-old was "Which kid-friendly sites allow strangers to make contact with children online?" As a parent of an 10-year-old girl this concerns me. I would love to see a follow-up to this story and find out "the whole story" as you said.
Rob Gianazza
2:26 pm on Sunday, January 23, 2011
I'm sure that is of concern to many parents. Students at Center Elementary, Huckleberry Hill Elementary and Whisconier Middle school students are taught about "Stranger Danger". In addition to school resources, the Brookfield Police Department also has information available as well. Please don't hesitate to contact your child's school principal, or the local police about what you can do as a parent. And most important, know who you child is making friends with, whether at the playground or on the Internet. Caution them about not sharing too much personal information.
Wendy Mitchell
4:52 pm on Sunday, January 23, 2011
Here is some more useful info for parents:
http://monroe.patch.com/articles/protecting-kids-from-predators-porn
Lori
8:00 pm on Sunday, January 23, 2011
First of all to comment on what James Brigg's friend stating that he is innocent. How did he get arrested in the first place? Obviously he showed up thinking he was going to meet an 8 year old girl, only to be confronted by police. So if he isn't guilty about that then who is? Secondly, since when should a predator have a certain look? Just because James Briggs seems like a nice person, doesn't mean he cannot be a predator. I worked with someone years ago who was the epitome of niceness and would do just about anything for anyone when asked. He was raised by an incredible family, who also managed to raise two other wonderful children. Well, that wonderful young man raised by this wonderful family was arrested for approaching several underage students and soliciting sex. So, I say again....just because it looks good on the outside doesn't mean it's good on the inside. What was he doing on the Internet thinking he was talking to an eight year old in the first place? I agree, innocent until proven guilty, but in this case if he showed up to that address thinking he was meeting a young girl, he wasn't going there to sell her cookies!