INTERNET SEX CRIME: Middlesex County man accused of arranging sex encounter with Bergen detective posing as girl

A 31-year-old Middlesex County man was arrested Monday after he traveled to Bergen County intending to meet up with a 14-year-old girl to have sexual intercourse, authorities said.

Harmanpreet Sharma of Avenel was charged with luring, attempted sexual assault and attempted endangering the welfare of a minor, Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli said.

Sharma had been chatting on Yahoo! Messenger with an undercover investigator who was posing as a 14-year-old girl, Molinelli said. In the course of the online conversations, Sharma made plans to meet up with the girl for sex at an undisclosed location in Bergen County, the prosecutor said.