TOMS RIVER – A Howell Township police officer remains behind bars at the Ocean County Jail after he was arrested during an apparent sting operation in Toms River.

New Jersey 101.5 was the first to report that 47-year-old Howell Township Police Sergeant Richard Conte, who also leads Monmouth County’s Emergency Response Team, allegedly attempted to set up a meeting with a minor.

A source close to Jersey Shore Online tells us that the sting operation was conducted by the New Jersey State Police. The actual arrest was made by the Toms River Police Department.

Peter Aseltine, the Public Information Officer with the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, confirms that Conte was charged with second-degree attempted luring or enticing of a child.

According to Aseltine, “Conte allegedly communicated using social media with an individual he believed to be a 15-year-old girl, requesting that she meet him for sexual activity. The “girl” was in fact an undercover detective.”

In an e-mail from Aseltine’s office, he reminds the public that the charge is merely an accusation and Conte is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Conte was incarcerated earlier today and is being held without bail until a court appearance next week.

Howell Police Sargent Christian Antunez confirms that Conte has been suspended without pay.

Howell Township Police Chief Andrew Kudrick released this statement on the department’s official Facebook page:

My Community,