Handcuffs (Shorebeat File Photo/ banspy/ Flickr)
A Toms River man was identified online by a group of digital Good Samaritans who investigated after learning about his trip abroad to meet a minor – and then he was arrested for his alleged acts there.
U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced Wednesday that Jacob Bauer, 28, of Toms River, was charged by complaint with one count of traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and one count of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place. He made his initial appearance on April 2, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Rukhsanah L. Singh in Trenton federal court.
According to court documents, between Dec. 1, 2023 through Dec. 10, 2023, Bauer, then 27, traveled from the United States to Norway to allegedly engage in sexual activity with a 14-year-old female. Federal authorities say Oonce in Norway, Bauer, while staying at a hotel, “engaged in sexual activity with the victim on at least one occasion.”
After returning to the United States, Bauer is alleged to have communicated over social media platforms with the victim and others about his sexual activities with the victim. During those conversations, prosecutors say Bauer acknowledged the victim’s age and status as a minor. After members of an online community in which Bauer was active learned of his sexual activities with a minor, Bauer was “doxxed” (his public information published online) by members of that community, which was not identified in the statement from prosecutors.
“Public safety is my number one priority for New Jersey’s residents, and my office is laser focused on protecting children and ending their exploitation at the hands of abusers,” said Habba. “The conduct here is as reprehensible as it is egregious: a then-27-year-old male took pains to plan international travel from New Jersey to Norway for the purpose of having sex with a 14-year-old girl.”
Each of the charges – traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place – carries a potential maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
“We have federal laws protecting children because they cannot defend themselves,” said Newark FBI Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly. “Most of these investigations go unnoticed because we do all we can to protect the innocent victims. However, the work FBI Newark agents and task force officers are doing should be heralded by all of us. Day in and day out – they are saving children who shouldn’t have to experience unspeakable horrors and abuse perpetrated by child sexual predators.”
The FBI and local law enforcement worked with INTERPOL, the Norwegian Politiet Troms District, the Norwegian Politiet NC3 KRIPOS, and the Poland Policja CBZC, Central Cybercrime Bureau on the case.
No photos of Bauer were available.
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