September 19, 2022
A 48-year-old man who traveled to a Staples in Evesham Township with the intention of having sex with a 13-year-old girl he met through a messaging app was arrested last week, the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office said.
David R. Gallagher, of Marlton, had been messaging a person he believed was a teenager for weeks, sending nude videos and photos, police said. But he actually was chatting with a law enforcement officer who was patrolling the internet for sexual predators.
Gallagher was taken into custody Wednesday when he arrived at the Staples along Route 70. The Burlington County Prosecutor's Office, Evesham Township Police Department and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations in Cherry Hill had been investigating Gallagher since the beginning of the summer.
Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw and ETPD Chief Walt Miller announced that a 48-year-old Marlton man was arrested after going to the Staples in Evesham Wednesday believing he would be having sex with the 13-year-old girl he met through a chat app. https://t.co/ISbGR83Q79 @EveshamPD pic.twitter.com/Hv4gM9sVGi
— Burlco Prosecutor (@BurlcoPros) September 16, 2022
Gallagher has been charged with attempting to lure a minor, attempted sexual assault, debauching the morals of a child, providing obscenity to a minor, and attempted criminal sexual contact.
He was sent to Burlington County Jail in Mount Holly where he will remain prior to a detention hearing. No court dates have been announced.