MANCHESTER – A Toms River man was arrested and charged after kidnapping a 14-year-old girl and sexually assaulting her, officials said.
Keith Hahn, 46, was charged with Aggravated Sexual Assault, Sexual Assault, Aggravated Criminal Sexual Contact, Kidnapping, Luring, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, all in connection with an incident that occurred in Toms River on September 29.
On that day, a 14-year-old girl became lost while walking on Route 70 in Manchester Township. At that time, a man driving a white Jeep Grand Cherokee stopped and talked to the victim. The girl then asked the driver to take her to the animal shelter in Toms River. However, the man instead drove the girl to an area in Toms River and sexually assaulted her, officials said.
The man then drove the victim to the Walmart in Toms River, where the victim exited the vehicle and ran home.
After identifying the man as Hahn, detectives discovered that he is a registered Megan’s Law offender.
On October 1, detectives searched Hahn’s home and car. Hahn was taken into custody at the residence without incident and transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he is presently lodged pending a detention hearing.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer acknowledged the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Megan’s Law Squad, Toms River Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Toms River Township Police Department, Manchester Township Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, for their combined and collective efforts in connection with this investigation.
The charges referenced above are merely accusations and the press and public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
