Investigators say Ralph L. Russ, 64, "improperly touched" a girl between the ages of 13 and 16 while he was babysitting her in February 2014.
WOODBURY -- A city man accused of improper contact with a teenager he was babysitting pleaded guilty to child endangerment and aggravated criminal sexual contact on Tuesday, according to the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office.
Investigators say Ralph L. Russ, now 64, "improperly touched" a girl between the ages of 13 and 16 in February 2014 while she was in his care. The girl told her mother what had happened, and Russ was arrested a few weeks later on March 11, 2014. He pleaded guilty to second-degree child endangerment and third-degree criminal sexual contact this week, just as jury selection was about to begin for his trial.
Second-degree offenses come with a sentencing range of five to 10 years, while third-degree offenses have a range of three to five years. It is up to the courts to decide whether the two sentences will be served consecutively or concurrently.
Russ will be sentenced after evaluation at the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center at Avenel. He has been in jail in default of $100,000 bail since his arrest.
Andy Polhamus may be reached at apolhamus@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ajpolhamus. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.
