STAFFORD COUNT, Va. — A 63-year-old New Jersey man is facing extradition to Virginia for a trial on 36 counts of sexual exploitation of children.
The case started in the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office where they conduct online investigations into people who target children for exploitation.
Investigators said in April of 2015 Herbert A. Gerretz, Jr., of Estell Manor City, New Jersey initiated contact with a 14-year-old girl online, who was being portrayed by Stafford Sheriff’s Detective Darryl Wells.
Herbert A Gerretz Jr. (PHOTO: Stafford County Sheriff’s Office)
“In the following months, Wells continued communications until he was able to positively identify the suspect and where he lived,” the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. “During the continuing communications, the suspect displayed his face to Wells. Additionally, Gerretz unknowingly provided other information that assisted in identifying him.”
Gerretz has been charged with 18 counts of attempted indecent liberties with a juvenile, one count of use of an electronic communication device to solicit a juvenile, and 17 additional second-offense charges of the same crime.
He could be sentenced to life in prison if found guilty of all of the charges.
Gerretz will be extradited to Stafford County when he faces his trial, according to Stafford County Assistant Commonwealth Attorney Ryan Frank.
The New Jersey State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce also assisted the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office in the identification and arrest of Gerretz.
