Man Who Flew To NJ For Sex With Teen In Toms River Sentenced

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Louisana man who was arrested in 2023 as he flew back to New Jersey for another sexual encounter with a 14-year-old has been sentenced to seven years in prison for assaulting the teen.

Spencer William-Wayne Caudle, 36, of Prairieville, Louisiana, was sentenced on Friday by Superior Court Judge Kimarie to the prison term for his guilty plea to sexual assault, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced.

Caudle also be subject to the terms of Megan’s Law, Nicole’s Law – which permanently prohibits him from having any contact with his victim — and parole supervision for life, Billhimer said.

Caudle pled guilty to the charge before Rahill on April 2, 2024, the prosecutor's office said.

Investigators learned Caudle started talking to the victim on the Whisper app in April 2023, and that the "communications with the victim were sexual in nature despite the victim informing Caudle" of being 14 years old.

"Caudle even expressed nervousness about being on the television show 'To Catch a Predator,' but continued informing the victim of his desire to have sex with the victim," according to information released by the U.S. Justice Department, which also charged him.

Caudle drove from Louisiana on May 26, 2023, to Toms River, and on May 27, 2023, met and "committed sexual acts on the victim," then drove back to Louisiana, authorities said.

Local law enforcement learned Caudle's prohibited sexual activity with the victim and started investigating, authorities said.

In June 2023, an undercover law enforcement officer using the victim’s online identity and cell phone communicated with Caudle. Caudle confirmed his prior sexual acts with the victim and expressed a desire for further sexual activity. While communicating with the undercover officer, Caudle made plans to fly to New Jersey on June 16, 2023, to commit additional sexual acts on the victim, authorities said.

When Caudle landed at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark on June 16, 2023, from New Orleans, he was arrested, authorities said. A search of a laptop Caudle brought to New Jersey revealed at least 10 images and five videos of child sexual abuse, they said.

Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit, United States Department of Homeland Security, and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department arrested Caudle, who has been held in the Ocean County Jail since that date.

Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Mara Brater handled the case for the state. The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, Toms River Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Freehold Township Police Department, United States Department of Homeland Security, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department, and U.S. Air Marshals Service collaborated in the investigation.