Toms River, NJ – An Ocean County man remains lodged in the Ocean County Jail on multiple first- and second-degree charges alleging the sexual assault of a child.
Michael Scott Varneke, 49, has been held without bail since June 4, according to Ocean County Jail records.
Related: Ocean County Jail, Toms River, aggravated sexual assault, child abuse
Multiple felony charges filed
Jail records show Varneke is charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child under the age of 13 under N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2(a)(1), a first-degree offense.
He is also charged with three counts of sexual assault under N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2(b) and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child under N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4(a).
Under New Jersey law, aggravated sexual assault involving a victim under the age of 13 is among the state’s most serious criminal offenses and carries the possibility of a lengthy state prison sentence upon conviction.
Held in Ocean County Jail
According to jail records, Varneke was committed to the Ocean County Jail on June 4 and is being held without bail pending court proceedings.
The publicly available inmate records do not identify the investigating agency or provide details regarding the allegations underlying the charges.
The charges are allegations only. Varneke is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
