Man Tried To Rape, Traffic Child At Hotel In Burlington Co.: AG

BROWNS MILLS, NJ — A Burlington County man was arrested last month after trying to traffic and sexually assault an underage girl at a hotel, authorities said Friday.

On April 7, Robert Lockwood contacted an undercover officer on a dating app, authorities said. The officer was posing as a mother with a 12-year-old daughter.

Lockwood and the officer began exchanging text messages. During those conversations, Lockwood indicated he was into taboo sex and stated, "Daddy daughter is my favorite. Uncle niece fun too," according to the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General.

The undercover officer told Lockwood that her daughter was 12 years old. Lockwood requested photos of the daughter, who was also part of the undercover operations, authorities said.

Lockwood, 36, of Browns Mills, sent photos of himself and identified himself by name, officials said. Over the next month, he repeatedly asked to meet with the mother and daughter, according to the attorney general's office.

They arranged to meet May 14 at a hotel in Westampton, where Lockwood planned to sexually assault the daughter while the mother watched, authorities said. When Lockwood arrived, he was arrested.

Lockwood was charged with conspiracy to commit human trafficking of a minor (first-degree), attempted aggravated sexual assault, luring, and attempted child endangerment (all second-degree).

He was released from jail after a detention hearing on May 21 and will return to court July 9 for a pre-indictment conference.

Lockwood's listed attorney did not immediately return comment to Patch.