MOUNT ARLINGTON, NJ — A 74-year-old man has been arrested in connection with explicit photos and notes left on vehicles at multiple locations in Morris County.
Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll, Chief of Detectives Robert McNally, Mount Arlington Police Officer in Charge Sgt. Ryan Sherburne, Randolph Police Chief Will Harzula, and Rockaway Township Police Chief Robert Scherr, Jr. announced that Thomas Hughes, of Budd Lake, has been charged in connection with the incidents.
On Sept. 30, a 17-year-old juvenile and her mother reported to Mount Arlington Police that they had traveled to the Quick Check, and upon leaving, had observed a note tucked under the windshield.
Upon arrival at their destination, they discovered a Polaroid photo of male genitalia and a sexually explicit, handwritten note.
Subsequent investigation identified Hughes as having left the photo and note at the Quick Check.
Hughes is also alleged to have left similar notes on the windshield of two adult victims outside a restaurant in Randolph on Oct. 4, and another adult victim at a restaurant in Rockaway Township on June 15, 2024.
Hughes was arrested on Oct. 15 and has been charged with one count of endangering the welfare of a child (sexual conduct), third degree; one count of providing obscene materials to a minor, third degree; three counts of distributing obscene materials, fourth degree; four counts of lewdness, a disorderly persons offense; and four counts of harassment, a petty disorderly persons offense.
Following his arrest, Hughes was detained in the Morris County Correctional Facility.
He was later released on pretrial monitoring level III, with special conditions that he have no contact with the victims and not to return to the businesses where the alleged incidents took place.
Anyone with information related to this investigation is encouraged to call the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit at 973-285-6200.
