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MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — A Morris County man has been arrested for leaving photographs of his genitalia on parked cars’ windshields, according to the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office.
Thomas Hughes, 74, of Budd Lake, was arrested on Wednesday for leaving nude polaroids, accompanied by “sexually explicit” handwritten notes, on the windshields of three cars, with one of the victims being underage, police say.
On Sept. 30, a 17-year-old girl and her mother were leaving the Quick Chek in Mount Arlington when they discovered the photo and note on the windshield of their car.
The mother and daughter reported the incident to the Mount Arlington police, who assisted in the subsequent investigation.
Police found that Hughes was responsible for the Quick Chek incident, as well as similar incidents at Black River Barn in Randolph earlier this month, and a Rockaway Township restaurant in 2024, authorities said.
The incidents led to a demand for action on social media, with residents calling for an investigation as they looked for answers.
“I have four daughters that have literally been raised in the Barn, I do not think it is a joke,” an owner of Black River Barn said during the investigation. “I have dedicated my life to the community. I have never heard of anything like this, so if you can make suggestions I am more than open to follow through with your suggestions”
Hughes is charged with one count of endangering the welfare of a child, one count of providing obscene materials to a minor, three counts of distributing obscene materials, four counts of lewdness, and four counts of harassment.
The 74-year-old was taken to the Morris County Correctional Facility and later released. He is subject to pretrial monitoring and is not to contact any of the victims or return to any of the businesses where the incidents took place, officials said.
Anyone with additional information in this case is asked to call the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit at 973-285-6200.
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