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UPDATE: Man Charged With Luring Attempts Out on Bail

Shahan Achian, charged in a number of local luring cases, has requested Facebook friendship with some area girls

 

An Upper Saddle River man charged last week in a string of child luring attempts in Bergen County -- as nearby as Glen Rock and Ridgewood -- is out on bail, according to the Bergen County Sheriff's Department.

Shahan Achian, 26, is charged with six counts of luring -- a second degree charge -- and six counts of endangering the welfare of a child -- a third degree charge. He could face more than 70 years in prison if convicted, Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli said.

Achian posted bail, set at $200,000, on Dec. 9, records show.

Fair Lawn Councilwoman Jeanne Baratta addressed the issue of Achian's release at Fair Lawn's Tuesday night council work session.

"It turns out [Achian] was just let out on bail," she said. "Parents should be warned if you have young daughters that this guy also tried to friend a lot of young girls in the area on Facebook and a lot of girls accepted his friend request."

Baratta said she learned of the situation from her daughter's school, Immaculate Heart Academy, in Washington Township, which sent a note to parents Tuesday afternoon after learning a number of female students had accepted Achian's Facebook friendship.

"Please take some time to discuss this important matter with your daughter and to encourage her to only accept friend requests from people she knows," the IHA release reads. 

"These kids have Facebook and they think it's really cool to have 1,000 friends, 2,000 friends," Baratta said Tuesday. "Do you know that many people? Most likely you don't."

Mahwah police warned parents last month of a lurer reported in nearby towns, but not of any reported incidents in the township.

Related Topics: Public Safety

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