New Jersey’s top court vacates sentence in child luring case

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- The New Jersey Supreme Court has vacated the sentence imposed on a former Atlantic City firefighter convicted of trying to have a sex with an online acquaintance he thought was a 14-year-old girl.

William Case, of Galloway Township, received an eight-year state prison term in June 2012 after being convicted on nearly a dozen counts in a nonjury trial.

The Press of Atlantic City reports state Superior Court Judge Max Baker found no proof that sex was expected, but at sentencing found Case was at risk of reoffending due to an alleged history of trolling for young girls online.

In a unanimous decision issued Tuesday, the justices found that was speculation without evidence and cited other flaws. They said a new sentencing hearing must be held within 30 days.

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