Atlantic City lifeguard is charged with attempting to lure an underage girl who was actually an undercover detective
Stephen M. Pagnoni, of Egg Harbor Township, was arrested this week in Cherry Hill, authorities said.
An Atlantic City lifeguard has been charged with attempting to pay for sex with who he believed to be an underage girl but who turned out to be an undercover detective, the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office said Thursday.
Stephen M. Pagnoni, of Egg Harbor Township, was arrested this week and was being held at the Camden County Correctional Facility pending a detention hearing, Camden County Prosecutor Grace C. MacAulay said.
Pagnoni, who has worked for the Atlantic City Beach Patrol for around 20 years, was suspended from his position, MacAulay said.
On Tuesday, Pagnoni allegedly began communicating online with a person he believed was a 15-year-old girl, but who was in fact a detective with the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crimes Unit, MacAulay said.
During the conversation, Pagnoni allegedly arranged to meet the supposed teen girl at a park in Cherry Hill for sex in exchange for money, MacAulay said.
After he arrived at the location, MacAulay said, Pagnoni was taken into custody by Cherry Hill police and members of the prosecutor’s office.
Pagnoni was charged with first-degree attempted manufacturing of child sexual abuse material, second-degree attempting to lure a child, second-degree attempted sexual assault of a minor, second-degree attempted prostitution with a minor, and related offenses.
In an emailed statement, the Atlantic City Department of Public Safety said it was aware of the criminal charges against Pagnoni.
“Based upon those charges, the lifeguard has been suspended from duty pending the outcome of the criminal investigation. The department will continue to monitor the investigation and will take any additional administrative action that may be appropriate as the matter proceeds,” the agency said.
Anyone with information that could be helpful to the investigation can contact Sgt. John Cochran of the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crimes Unit at 856-225-8826. Tips may also be sent to CAMDEN.TIPS.
