Ocean County man sentenced on child luring charge

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Thursday, August 27, 2015
Mark Allan
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MANAHAWKIN, N.J. (WPVI) -- A judge has sentenced an Ocean County man for trying to lure a child from the Stafford Public Library in Manahawkin.

The victim's mother was present on Wednesday when Mark Allan was ordered to spend 5 years in New Jersey State Prison.

The 56-year-old Tuckerton resident must also register under Megan's Law, and Nicole's Law, which bars him from contact with the victim, as well as the library.

Allan learned his sentence after he entered a guilty plea in May to a 2nd degree luring charge.

According to prosecutors he approached a 12-year-old-girl at the Stafford library in February 2014.

Police said he handed the child a note, containing an invitation to the movies and a phone number.

Undercover detectives used that phone number to set up a sting.

They say they posed as the girl and began communicating with Allan via text message.

When Allan returned to the library the next day police say he believed he was meeting the girl alone.

He was instead greeted by police and arrested.

His sentence includes parole supervision for life upon his release from prison.