By: Tracie Carter
A Pennsylvania man has been sentenced to seven years in New Jersey state prison following an undercover investigation involving alleged plans to have explicit contact with someone he believed was a minor, authorities announced.
According to information released by New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport, the Division of Criminal Justice and New Jersey State Police, Hank W. West, 45, of Chester, Pennsylvania, previously pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted aggravated sexual assault.
Under the plea agreement, West must serve at least 85 percent of his seven-year sentence before becoming eligible for parole.
Authorities said he will also be required to register under Megan’s Law and will be subject to lifetime parole supervision.
Superior Court Judge Aimee R. Belgard imposed the sentence in Burlington County.
According to court documents and statements made in court, West contacted an undercover New Jersey State Police investigator through a mobile dating app on February 9, 2025.
Authorities said the investigator was posing as a mother of a 12-year-old minor. During the communications, West allegedly discussed plans involving explicit contact with the minor and arranged to meet at a hotel in Bordentown.
West was arrested when he arrived at the location, authorities said.
The Attorney General’s Office said the investigation was conducted as part of law enforcement efforts to protect minors from individuals attempting to use online platforms to facilitate illegal encounters.