Atlantic City Firefighter Sentenced to 8 Years on Child Luring Charges

An Atlantic City firefighter from Galloway was sentenced today to up to eight years in prison plus $11,300 in fines after being .

William Case Jr., 29, stood silent and without emotion as Judge Max A. Baker read each charge Case was guilty of before announcing the sentence.

As the case was called, Prosecutor Janet Gravitz reminded the court of why Case was charged.

“Perhaps he was a law-abiding citizen, perhaps he was a fireman and perhaps he did lead a life of public service, but this same individual that led a life of public service also has this other side that, according to his doctors, was as result of his traumas from his life in public service,” Gravitz said.

According to his defense attorney, John Zarych, “Mr. Case has a three-week-old child he has never held. I couldn’t imaging being without from my child for a substantial  amount of time. Certainly this family is going to struggle financially and emotionally. Even when he is released, he’s going to have trouble finding a job and supporting his family.” 

Case also had the support of his family, as his mother and sisters plead with Baker to impose a lenient judgment against him.

“Being in prison will not help him. He will not get the help he needs,” plead Case’s mother. “He needs rehab. Why is he not getting rehab like everyone else? He is going to come out of prison as a broken man.”

Case was found guilty on 11 of 12 counts:

1. Attempting to engage in sexual conduct, which would impair or debauch the morals of a child reasonably believed to be under the age of 16 years – three years jail time with parole eligibility after one year.
2. Attempting to lure or entice a child whom the defendant believed to be 16 years old into a motor vehicle, structure or isolated area with the purpose to commit a criminal offense with or against the child – eight years jail time with parole eligibility after four years.
3. Attempting to engage in sexual conduct, which would impair or debauch the morals of a child reasonably believed to be under the age of 16 years – three years jail time with parole eligibility after one year.
4. Attempting to lure or entice a child whom the defendant believed to be 16 years old into a motor vehicle, structure or isolated area with the purpose to commit a criminal offense with or against the child – eight years jail time with parole eligibility after four years.
5. Attempting to engage in sexual conduct, which would impair or debauch the morals of a child reasonably believed to be under the age of 16 years – three years jail time with parole eligibility after one year.
6. Attempting to lure or entice a child whom the defendant believed to be 16 years old into a motor vehicle, structure or isolated area with the purpose to commit a criminal offense with or against the child – eight years jail time with parole eligibility after four years.
7. Attempting to engage in sexual conduct, which would impair or debauch the morals of a child reasonably believed to be under the age of 16 years – three years jail time with parole eligibility after one year.
8. Attempting to lure or entice a child whom the defendant believed to be 16 years old into a motor vehicle, structure or isolated area with the purpose to commit a criminal offense with or against the child – eight years jail time with parole eligibility after four years.
9. Attempting to engage in sexual conduct, which would impair or debauch the morals of a child reasonably believed to be under the age of 16 years – three years jail time with parole eligibility after one year.
10. Attempting to commit an act of sexual conduct with a child the defendant believed to be at least 13 years old, but less than 16 years old and the defendant was at least four years older, for the purpose of sexually arousing or sexually gratifying himself and/or to degrade or humiliate the child (4th degree offense) – one year jail time.
11. Dismissed
12. Attempting to lure or entice a child whom the defendant believed to be 16 years old into a motor vehicle, structure or isolated area with the purpose to commit a criminal offense with or against the child – eight years jail time with parole eligibility after four years.

All charges will run concurrently. 

Along with jail time and fines, Case must also register as a sex offender under "Megan's Law." He will also have parole supervision for life, will forfeit any position of public employment and unless required by an employer, will have no access to devices with internet access. Case will also be required to submit to random searches by his parole or probation officer. If a device is required for employment, he will submit to software or hardware that will be installed on the device, at his own expense, to monitor his internet use.