Farmingdale man pleads guilty to attempted kidnapping, escape and sexual interference

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TOMS RIVER, NJ — Quamel Benton, 36, of Farmingdale, pleaded guilty Monday to several charges, including attempted kidnapping, two counts of escape and criminal sexual contact, according to the county attorney of Ocean, Bradley D. Billhimer. The charges stem from incidents that occurred March 21 and 22 in Lakewood and Toms River.

The sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 6. Prosecutors will seek a sentence of seven years in New Jersey State Prison (NJSP) for the attempted kidnapping charge, as well as additional sentences for the other charges. Benton’s sentence includes sentences for fraudulent and criminal sexual contact, some of which will run consecutively.

The case began March 21 when Lakewood Township police responded to Forest Park Circle for a reported attempted kidnapping. Authorities say Benton, driving a white SUV, tried to put a teenage girl into his vehicle before she escaped and ran home.

Later that night, Benton was involved in a sexual assault incident at a Target parking lot in Toms River, where he fled after grabbing a woman. Police pursued Benton after identifying his vehicle, but ended the pursuit when he entered the Garden State Parkway.

Benton was apprehended in the early hours of March 22 after crashing his vehicle during a police chase and attempting to flee on foot.