A former sheriff’s officer in Bergen County arrested for sending sexually charged text messages to a 14-year-old child has entered a plea deal to avoid jail time, court records show.
Michael Vermeylen, 42, of Oak Ridge, was arrested Feb. 7 at the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, where he was employed as a detective.
He was charged with third-degree obscenity to minors and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child.
Vermeylen spent six days in jail before he was released. He cut a plea deal with prosecutors in April to avoid additional jail time, court records show.
The agreement allowed Vermeylen to plead guilty to one count of third-degree endangering in exchange for the dismissal of the obscenity charge.
Investigators said Vermeylen sent “inappropriate sexual text messages” to a juvenile acquaintance who lived in Monmouth County.
“Vermeylen expressed his attraction to the juvenile and sent a naked picture of himself to the victim,” Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago said at the time.
The victim’s father called police, and a prosecutor’s office detective took over the victim’s phone.
During chats with the undercover, Vermeylen “spoke about sexual acts” and sent a picture of his private parts to the detective, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
After his arrest, Vermeylen “admitted to drinking heavily and texting” the victim. He also admitted deleting the texts one day before his arrest, the affidavit states.
Vermeylen provided a DNA sample and agreed to parole supervision for life, under the agreement. He was also ordered to register as a Megan’s Law sex offender, undergo sex offender evaluation and pay $1,705 in fines and court costs.
Vermeylen, who was suspended without pay after his arrest, agreed to forfeit his job with the sheriff’s office, court records show.
Court documents do not state whether Vermeylen is prohibited from working a public job.
An attorney listed in Vermeylen’s name was not immediately available to comment.
Public records show Vermeylen was hired by the sheriff’s office on Jan. 1, 2013, and earned more than $138,000 a year at the time of his arrest.
Vermeylen had no prior history of criminal activity and led a law-abiding life before the crime, court records show.
