A Toms River man was arrested after he traveled to Norway to have sex with a 14-year-old girl in 2023, investigators announced Wednesday.
Jacob Bauer, 28, was charged with one count of traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and one count of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of New Jersey.
Bauer left for Norway on Dec. 1, 2023 and checked into a hotel between Dec. 6 and Dec. 9. During that time, he had sex with the girl at least once, according to a criminal complaint.
After returning to the United States, Bauer communicated over social media platforms, including Discord, with the girl and others about his sexual activities with her, the office said.
During those conversations, Bauer acknowledged the girl’s age, federal prosecutors said.
After two members of an online Discord community learned what Bauer did, they posted private conversations they had with him publicly on the instant messaging social platform, investigators said.
That information was shared with the FBI and helped lead to his arrest this year, the office said.
Bauer made his first appearance in Trenton federal court on April 2, authorities said.
“These charges underscore how we are standing up for the most vulnerable and will not tolerate the sexual abuse of children,” U.S. Attorney Alina Habba said in a statement. “I commend our partners at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, law enforcement members at the state and local levels, and our international partners who assisted with this investigation.”
Stories by Chris Sheldon
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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.