Prosecutors say the former patrolman admitted to child endangerment and computer crimes stemming from misconduct involving two teenage girls.
FREEHOLD, N.J. — A former Manalapan Township police officer has pleaded guilty to child endangerment and computer crime charges after prosecutors said he engaged in illegal conduct involving two teenage girls, including a 16-year-old he met during a community event.
Kevin Ruditsky, 49, entered guilty pleas Wednesday before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Jill G. O’Malley to one count of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child and two counts of third-degree computer criminal activity, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.
Prosecutors said the investigation began in August 2023 after authorities received information that Ruditsky had been sending inappropriate messages to one of the victims.
According to investigators, the conduct began during Manalapan Township’s National Night Out event in 2023, where Ruditsky, while on duty and in uniform, met the 16-year-old girl.
During his guilty plea, Ruditsky admitted he knew the girl’s age when he sent her sexually explicit messages and images through social media.
He also admitted that several days later he stopped the girl on Route 9, unlawfully handcuffed her and attempted to kiss her, prosecutors said.
Investigators said Ruditsky further admitted that while on duty he parked his marked patrol vehicle outside the girl’s home in a neighboring town during the early morning hours. The conduct came to an end after it was reported to law enforcement.
Ruditsky also admitted to improperly accessing a law enforcement database to obtain information about the 16-year-old. Prosecutors said he further acknowledged conducting an unauthorized database search involving another underage girl in December 2022 that was unrelated to any legitimate law enforcement purpose.
Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 20.
The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office said it intends to seek a 10-year state prison sentence, registration as a sex offender under Megan’s Law, parole supervision for life and a no-contact order involving both victims.
As part of the proceedings, a judge signed an order permanently barring Ruditsky from holding any public office or public employment in New Jersey.
Prosecutors noted that a guilty plea is an admission of the charges, and sentencing will be determined by the court.
Key Points
- A former Manalapan police officer pleaded guilty to child endangerment and computer crime charges.
- Prosecutors said the case involved misconduct with a 16-year-old girl and unauthorized law enforcement database searches involving two teenage girls.
- Prosecutors plan to seek a 10-year prison sentence, Megan’s Law registration and lifetime parole supervision at sentencing.
