Paulsboro teacher convicted of luring student via MySpace

PAULSBORO, N.J. - October 29, 2013

Michael Furey, 49, was found guilty on Tuesday in a non-jury trial of official misconduct and luring.

Investigators say Furey, using a MySpace profile, pretended to be a teenage boy to send sexually explicit messages to the victim, a 17-year-old girl.

According to the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office, the girl testified that she thought the person communicating with her was another teen.

The girl went to meet the person messaging her in June, 2010, but arrived to find Furey in a parked car.

According to her testimony, the girl told Furey he was a "creeper" and walked away. Then, she said, Furey told her, "Just delete all the messages and don't tell anybody this happened."

However, investigator say, she told her mother two days later.

Investigators say Furey intended to have sex with the girl, saying his messages showed he wanted to make sure the girl was alone.

The judge remarked that Furey seemed "obsessed" with the girl.

Furey, who is also veteran of the Air Force, had been suspended without pay from Paulsboro High School since his arrest.

Furey's bail has been revoked and he is in custody pending his sentencing in November.

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