A Philadelphia man accused of coming to Absecon’s Heritage Park to meet a 15-year-old girl for sex was ordered released from jail Tuesday.
Those messages were really from Decker, who had notified Absecon police. Officers arrested Cephas-Lee on camera.
Cephas-Lee told Judge Nancy Ridgway at his detention hearing that he no longer is a Philadelphia resident. He and his fiancee recently moved to the area, he said.
They were staying at the Absecon Travelodge while waiting for a permanent residence. He also said he has put in for employment at various businesses in the area.
Ridgway said she had concerns about Cephas-Lee, but that if she held him it would be considered a violation of Mercedes, a rule that keeps a defendant from being held based solely on the charge they face.
He has no other criminal history.
Cephas-Lee must check in with the court weekly, including in-person every other week.
He also is banned from going online unless it is to fill out paperwork for employment or for contact with his attorney.
