Seth Bowles, 21, faces seven charges after prosecutors say he instructed a teenage girl to engage in sexual conduct for photos and videos and separately communicated sexually with a 13-year-old girl
LACEY TOWNSHIP, NJ – A 21-year-old Lacey Township man has been indicted after prosecutors say he sent nude photos of himself to a 15-year-old girl, requested sexual images from her and instructed the teenager to record herself engaging in sexual conduct, while investigators also uncovered alleged sexual communications with a 13-year-old girl in Nebraska.
Seth Bowles was indicted Wednesday by an Ocean County grand jury on charges of manufacturing child sexual abuse material, possession of child sexual abuse material and sexual assault.
He was also indicted on two counts of endangering the welfare of a minor and two counts of distributing obscene materials to a minor, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.
The case was investigated by the prosecutor’s High Tech Crime Squad and the Lacey Township Police Department.
Prosecutors allege Bowles communicated with the 15-year-old girl between September 2025 and January.
During those communications, Bowles allegedly sent nude photographs of himself to the girl and requested child sexual abuse material from her.
Investigators further allege Bowles instructed the teenager to engage in sexual conduct and send him photographs and videos depicting that conduct.
Detectives from the High Tech Crime Squad and Lacey Township Police executed a court-authorized search warrant at Bowles’ Lacey Township residence on Jan. 15.
Several electronic items were seized during the search, according to prosecutors.
Bowles was taken into custody at Lacey Township Police Department headquarters and transported to the Ocean County Jail. He was subsequently released under New Jersey’s bail system.
The investigation also uncovered alleged communications between Bowles and a 13-year-old girl in Nebraska during the same period.
Prosecutors said Bowles communicated with the 13-year-old through Kik Messenger, allegedly sent her a nude image and engaged in sexual conversations with her.
The prosecutor’s office did not provide additional details about the sexual assault charge in its announcement.
Wednesday’s indictment followed the continuing investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Squad and Lacey Township Police Department.
The charges are accusations. Bowles is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Key Points
- Seth Bowles, 21, was indicted Wednesday on seven charges, including sexual assault and manufacturing child sexual abuse material.
- Prosecutors allege Bowles solicited sexual images and videos from a 15-year-old girl and sent her nude photographs of himself.
- Investigators also allege Bowles exchanged sexual communications with a 13-year-old Nebraska girl and sent her a nude image.