Suspended NJ Cop Faces Prison After Guilty Plea

A suspended New Jersey police officer accused of propositioning a 12-year-old girl for sex has pleaded guilty to official misconduct and attempted aggravated assault.

Steven Vigorito Jr. told a judge Wednesday that he met the girl when her family brought her to the Woodland Park police station in 2012 to report she was sneaking out of the house with her 17-year-old boyfriend. The 41-year-old said he gave her his phone number.

Vigorito admitted to sending sexual messages to what he thought was the girl's number. It was part of a sting set up by police after the girl's mother complained of the officer's conduct.

The Record newspaper reports the 12-year veteran of the force faces termination and at least five years in prison under terms of a plea deal.