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Ventnor man charged with child luring after predator catcher's tip

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A Ventnor man was charged with luring and enticing a child after he allegedly asked a teenage boy to come to his home for sex.

Joseph M. Manzoni, 56, was arrested after a monthlong investigation sparked by a call from Musa Harris.

As LC Predator Catcher, Harris runs a YouTube channel and Facebook page that shows him confronting men he met online posing as a minor.

Harris came to the Jackson Apartments in Ventnor on May 22 to meet Mike, who he indicates wanted oral sex. He walked into the open apartment to find Manzoni sitting on his bed.

Video posted on his Facebook page and YouTube channels show the entire interaction.

"Let me tell you something I was going to do, no lie. No lie, bro," Manzoni begins. "I was gonna scare the shit out of that kid."

He note that the profile of the "boy" says he's 18, but later says he's 15.

"How do I even know he's really 15?" Manzoni then asks. "I was going to ask him for ID when he walked through the door. I'm not stupid, bro."

He insists he "played along with the whole thing to scare the shit out of that kid, and that's the God's honest truth."

"Did you talk explicit to this kid?" Harris asks him.

Manzoni does not answer, instead repeating that he only had the teen come to his home to scare him.

Then, Manzoni has had enough.

"Could you stop filming me in my house, bro?" he asks, jumping off the bed. "Get out right f---ing now? Right f---ing now, bro. Right now."

As Harris walks toward the door to leave, he says he will just call the police.

"Go ahead do that, bro, 'cause I was just trying to save the kid's ass," Manzoni responds.

He then slams the door.

Harris then calls him some names and again says that he will call the police.

"I'll call my family and have you wiped the f--- out," Mazoni screams from behind the closed door.

The video shows Ventnor police arrive and speak with Harris, taking his information.

He gives them his identification and tells them this is his 357th "catch." The Luzerne County, Pa., man previously told BreakingAC that he's been doing this work since March 2020.

An investigation by Detective Kevin Brady and Patrolman Michael Newell led to Manzoni's arrest.

Manzoni was charged with the second-degree crime on a summons with a pending court appearance.

His LinkedIn lists him as head of maintenance for Jackson Apartments LLC.

No one for the apartment building could be reached for comment.

FULL VIDEO: Warning graphic language.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVVlJGhb9NU&t=46s

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Thursday, April 25, 2024
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