New Bedford Man Arrested for Sending Explicit Texts to Young Girl

NEW BEDFORD - A New Bedford man is arrested on charges out of New Jersey alleging that he was engaging in sexually explicit text conversations with what he thought was an 11-year-old girl.

The Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office says the investigation began in New Jersey when Michael Camacho, 55, formerly of Lake Como, New Jersey, and now a New Bedford resident, contacted the female child on her cell phone. An undercover detective with the Ocean Township Police Department took control of the child's phone and continued communication with Camacho, posing as the child. During weeks of conversation, Camacho allegedly discussed engaging in sexual activity with the child, sent obscene photographs of himself, requested photographs of the young girl, and attempted to arrange a meet-up with her.

Authorities located Camacho in New Bedford. He was arrested Wednesday by members of the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assaigned to the Office of the Attorney General, Massachusetts Internet Crims against Children Task Force, Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General, Enterprise, Major and Cyber Crime Division, and the New Bedford Police Department.

Camacho is charged with charged with second-degree luring, second-degree attempted endangering the welfare of a child, two counts of third-degree attempted endangering the welfare of a child, and third-degree attempted obscenity to a minor. Camacho faces a sentence of five to ten years in a New Jersey state prison and is subject to the provisions of Megan’s Law and Parole Supervision for Life upon his release if convicted of either of the second-degree charges. He faces a sentence of three to five years in a New Jersey state prison on the third-degree charges. A conviction of any of the third-degree Attempted Endangering charges would also invoke the provisions of Megan’s Law and Parole Supervision for Life.

Camacho has waived extradition and is pending transportation to New Jersey to face the charges.