Burlington County Prosecutor Lachia L. Bradshaw and Westampton Township Police Chief Stephen Ent announced that a 59-year-old bus driver from Florida has been charged with attempting to arrange a sexual encounter with an underage girl in a Westampton hotel.
Gregory P. Tibbetts, of Ocoee, Fla. was under the impression that he was texting with a 14-year-old girl, but in reality, he was communicating with detectives who were aware of his intentions.
Tibbets has been charged with Luring (Second Degree), Attempted Sexual Assault (Second Degree), Impairing/Debauching the Morals of a Minor (Third Degree) and Attempted Criminal Sexual Contact (Fourth Degree).
Tibbetts was taken into custody Wednesday at the hotel and lodged in the Burlington County Jail in Mount Holly pending a detention hearing in Superior Court.
The case will be prepared for presentation to a grand jury for possible indictment.
The investigation began on June 5 after Tibbetts, who was traveling through the area as part of his employment responsibilities, notified a hotel employee that he desired to connect with an underage male or female to engage in sexual conduct.
Police provided the employee with a cell phone number to pass along to Tibbetts. During the ensuing text exchange with detectives, Tibbets, who believed he was communicating with a 14-year-old girl, described in graphic detail the sexual acts he hoped to engage in with the minor.
The investigation was conducted by the Westampton Township Police Department, the Prosecutor’s Office, and the Evesham Township Police Department. The lead investigators are WTPD Det. Andrew Redfield, BCPO Det. Kevin Sobotka and ETPD Det. Christopher DeFrancesco.
Tibbetts will be prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Stephen Eife, supervisor of the Special Victims Unit.
All persons are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.