Man Tried To Sexually Assault Child At Hotel In Camden Co.: Prosecutor

PINE HILL, NJ — A man sought to sexually assault an underage girl at a Camden County hotel last month, authorities said Friday.

Michael Marchionese, 51, of Pine Hill, had been chatting with an undercover detective who posed as a 14-year-old girl, according to the Camden County Prosecutor's Office.

They started communicating online in October and later began text messaging over the course of several weeks, authorities said. Marchionese made multiple requests for nude photographs of the girl throughout that time, according to prosecutors.

Marchionese ultimately arranged to meet the "girl" at a hotel in Cherry Hill for sexual activity, prosecutors said.

The undercover detective is part of the prosecutor's office High Tech Crimes Unit.

Authorities didn't say whether Marchionese went to the hotel. But he was charged last month with four counts of attempted manufacturing of child sexual abuse material (first-degree) and single counts of attempted child luring (second-degree), attempted sexual assault of a minor (second-degree) and attempted endangering the welfare of a child (third-degree).

A Regional Fugitive Task Force of the U.S. Marshals Service arrested Marchionese at his Pine Hill home Nov. 21.

A judge denied prosecutors' motion to keep Marchionese detained pre-trial on Wednesday, according to online court records.

Marchionese's attorney declined comment via a spokesperson for the state Public Defender's Office.