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MAYS LANDING, NJ — A Brick Township man was sentenced Monday to four years in state prison for sexually assaulting a woman he met on a dating app in 2021, Atlantic County authorities said.

Gary M. Kearns, 56, pleaded guilty Aug. 26 to second-degree sexual assault and admitted to assaulting the victim without her consent at an Atlantic City hotel in August 2021. Under the No Parole Act of New Jersey, Kearns must serve at least 85 years. % of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole. After his release, he will face lifetime parole supervision and Megan’s Law registration.

According to prosecutors, Kearns met the victim through Facebook Dating, using a fake name to court her. He picked her up and drove her to Atlantic City under the pretense of going on a date. Once at the hotel, Kearns sexually assaulted the victim and then abandoned her, leaving her stranded more than an hour from her home.

The case was investigated by the Atlantic City Police Department’s Special Victims Unit and the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office’s Special Victims Unit. Assistant District Attorney Tiffany deGrandmaison handled the case for the state.

Authorities emphasized the seriousness of the crime, highlighting Kearns’ deceit and predatory behavior.