Man Sentenced To 10 Years For Neptune Child Sex Assault

NEPTUNE, NJ — A New York state man was sentenced to 10 years in state prison for sexually assaulting a teenage Neptune Township girl in a local motel room in 2023.

David Leigh, 35, of Auburn, New York was sentenced Friday by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Natalie Watson. He must serve at least five years prior to becoming eligible for parole, and will have to register as a sex offender under Megan’s Law and be subject to parole supervision for life.

The victim was a 14-year-old girl from Neptune Township, said Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago.

An investigation by Neptune Township Police revealed that Leigh and the victim, who was 14 at the time, met through a social media site. Shortly thereafter, in April 2023, they met in person at a motel in Neptune, where the sexual assault took place.

The prosecutor said the teen girl told Leigh her age beforehand.

Leigh was arrested in January 2024, and indicted by a Monmouth County grand jury two months later. His criminal trial lasted one week before a guilty verdict was returned in June. He was found guilty of second-degree Sexual Assault, third-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child and fourth-degree Criminal Sexual Contact.

The prosecution used physical and electronic evidence, along with the victim's own testimony.

This case was prosecuted by MCPO Assistant Prosecutors Sarah Mielke and Christopher Ammon. Leigh was represented by George J. Mardinly, Esq.