EXCLUSIVE REPORT: A Sayreville man who drove to a Dunkin Donuts in Paramus for what he thought would be sex with an 11-year-old girl after sending a photo of his genitals to another he thought was 13 was sentenced to 30 days in the Bergen County Jail yesterday.
Jeffrey Zuber, 41, asked Superior Court Judge Edward A. Jerejian for probation, describing a series of events that he said drove him to depression and deviant behavior — culminating with his arrest by cyber-crime detectives posing as youngsters.
It began with his divorce, Zuber told the judge in Hackensack.
“Life started to change,” he said. “I bought a house for me and my son, and then I lost my job. I didn’t know if I could get another job to pay my bills.”
Things got worse following a massive flood, as well as a death in the family that hit him particularly hard, Zuber said. The house flooded again during Hurricane Irene, he said.
Superior Court Judge Edward Jerejian
Following his June 2011 arrest, Zuber said, he began reflecting on his choices. He also had a life-altering experience during Hurricane Sandy, he said.
“I almost died, swimming for my life,” he said.
Zuber told the judge he’s gotten help from a therapist and found a job.
His defense attorney, Brian Neary, said his client has attended more than 20 counseling sessions while free on $75,000 bail and will be continuing.
To which Zuber added: “I ask you please, your honor: Help me in rebuilding my life.”
Zuber had two experiences with investigators from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office who troll the Internet for cyber predators.
In April 2011, he sold what they described as “obscene material” to them online. Then came the June 7 trip to Paramus, where he was arrested.
Jeffrey Zuber (r.) with defense attorney Brian Neary (STORY / PHOTOS: Mary K. Miraglia, CLIFFVIEW PILOT Courthouse Reporter)
It was to the third-degree charge of selling obscene material that Zuber pleaded guilty to. He also agreed to participate in a diligent program of counseling and other activities designed to rehabilitate his life.
In exchange, prosecutors dropped nine other charges.
Jerejian said Zuber nonetheless needs to experience jail a bit more, so that he’ll “never want to come back.”
Zuber will get credit for the 10 days he already spent behind bars, dropping the sentence to 20 days, plus three years of probation, the judge noted.
If he violates the terms in any way, he warned Zuber, “you’ll go to state prison for five years.”
“You were looking to have sex with a 13-year old girl and an 11-year old girl,” Jerejian said. “You went to Dunkin’ Donuts in Paramus to meet a young girl for sex.
“Children need to be protected from this whole new world that’s accessible on the internet,” the judge added. “There is a strong need to deter this type of behavior.”
STORY / PHOTOS: Mary K. Miraglia, CLIFFVIEW PILOT Courthouse Reporter