Case related to ‘OCBP_predators’ page on Instagram in 2021
CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE — Former Ocean City Beach Patrol lifeguard Jonathan Howell was sentenced to four years’ probation June 18 after pleading guilty to second-degree endangering the welfare of a child.
Howell, 42, of Marmora, a former member of the OCBP member and teacher in the Pleasantville School District, was sentenced by Superior Court Judge J. Christopher Gibson, according to Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland.
In a press release issued by the Prosecutor’s Office, Sutherland said the sentence was related to the social media post in April 2021 that made numerous allegations against the Ocean City Beach Patrol.
“Since that time, the Prosecutor’s Office has conducted a thorough investigation into these allegations and this sentence was as a result of this investigation,” he stated in the press released.
The social media site was an Instagram page entitled “OCBP_predators” that featured what it called “the untold stories of pedophiles, predators, and inappropriate behavior on the beaches of America’s Greatest Family Resort.”
One of the initial posts on the site read, “OCBP has more pedophiles in power than not. These men prey on young, impressionable girls on the beach patrol and beach patrons alike. Many underage girls have been harassed by their direct supervisor and no action has been taken to stop this. Repost if you believe these men should be held responsible.”
After that initial post were a slew of other posts alleging inappropriate and illegal behavior on the OCBP and on other patrols in southern New Jersey. Some long-serving former lifeguards told the Sentinel they found the posts credible based on what they experienced.
Some of the posts talked about booze-fueled parties with older male guards preying upon underage female guards.
Mayor Jay Gillian said as soon as Ocean City officials were made aware of the site, which began with about 200 followers and swelled into the thousands, the Prosecutor’s Office began investigation.
After that, the city brought in J. Allan Karas, an outsider, as director of operations. He undertook a major restructuring of the OCBP management team.
Howell was indicted Jan. 21, 2023, on first-degree aggravated sexual assault, second-degree sexual assault, second-degree official misconduct and two counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child.
Howell pled guilty to second-degree endangering the welfare of a child and was sentenced to four years’ probation and must forfeit any future public employment.
Howell was not the first OCBP guard prosecuted. Lifeguard Chris Denn was fired from the OCBP and subsequently resigned from his teaching job at Mainland Regional High School after allegedly exposing himself in August 2019 to a female subordinate.
Denn, a former senior guard as well as a gym teacher and swimming coach at Mainland Regional High School, pled guilty Feb. 13, 202 to fourth-degree criminal sexual contact.
Ocean City also settled a related lawsuit from an OCBP guard for $135,000 with the allegations about Denn and a “good old boys” network that allowed older guards to prey upon younger female lifeguards. Two other guards also filed suit against the city.
In the Prosecutor’s Office press release, Sutherland stated his office “will continue to work hand in hand with the local municipalities to aggressively investigate and prosecute violent crimes within the county and he would like to recognize the investigative efforts of the officers and detectives involved in this investigation along with Senior Assistant Prosecutor Bryna Batten who prosecuted this case.”
Sutherland urged residents of Cape May County to report information regarding any criminal activity and that the information can be reported anonymously through the Cape May County Sheriffs Tip Line at cmcsheriff.net and click on anonymous tip, or through the Cape May County Crime Stoppers at (609) 889-3597, or the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office at (609) 465-1135.
– By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
