CNBNews

Moorestown, N.J.- A Burlington County man has been charged with promoting obscene material to a minor, endangering the welfare of a child and other offenses, following an investigation involving a 15-year-old female victim, reported Camden County Prosecutor Grace C. MacAulay, Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw, Cherry Hill Police Chief Robert Kempf, and Moorestown Director of Police Patrick J. Reilly, Jr.

Ovidiu V. Dragos, 60, of Moorestown, New Jersey, has been charged with one count of second-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child, one count of third-degree Promoting Obscene Material to Persons Under 18-years-old, one count of fourth-degree Stalking, and one count of Harassment.

During the investigation, detectives learned that Dragos showed a naked photograph of himself to a 15-year-old female victim on his cellular device on two separate occasions while attending group tennis lessons at the Cherry Hill Health and Racquet Club in Cherry Hill, N.J.  Dragos also placed numerous letters, cards, poems, and gifts in the victim’s tennis bag over a 2-year period, while providing private and group tennis lessons to the child at outdoor courts in Cinnaminson, Moorestown, and Cherry Hill.

Dragos is a co-coach for boys and girls tennis at Moorestown High School, and he also conducts private and group lessons at Cherry Hill Health and Racquet Club in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

Following an investigation by the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit, the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit, the Cherry Hill Police Department, and the Moorestown Police Department, Dragos was arrested in Moorestown on February 26, 2024, by the U.S. Marshals NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force – Camden Division. Dragos was remanded to the Camden County Correctional Facility pending a pretrial detention hearing.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is urged to contact Detective Kristen Blantz of the Camden County Prosecutors Office Special Victims Unit at (856) 225-8642, Detective Joshua Jenkins of the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office at (609) 845-2811, Detective Gregory Brisbin of the Cherry Hill Police Department at (856) 432-8830, or Detective Ryan Carr of the Moorestown Police Department at (856) 914-3037. Tips can also be sent anonymously to CAMDEN.TIPS. 

All individuals charged with crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.