Following an investigation by Springfield police and the Union County Prosecutor’s office, a Union Township man has been arrested after allegedly sending sexually-charged messages to a teen.

Frednel Lambert, 32, was arrested early this morning at his home. Lambert, an adoption specialist for the State Division of Children and Families, allegedly sent sexually charged messages to a 15-year-old boy through Facebook. 

Union County Prosecutor Theodore Romankow said in a statement that until recently, Lambert was a choir director for a Newark Church. Lambert reportedly met the alleged teenage victim through the church.

Law enforcement began investigating Lambert in September, 2011 after the alleged victim's mother told Springfield Police that Lambert sent sexually charged messages to her 15-year-old son. Police say the Facebook communications took place over a two-week period.

Lambert was charged with 3rd Degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child. He is being held on $35,000 bail at the Union County Jail and faces up to five years in prison if convicted. Romankow said that the investigation is active and that anyone with information should contact Prosecutor's Office Detective Patricia Gusmano at 908-527-4589 or Springfield Police Detective Jim Morton at 973-376-0400.

Springfield Police Chief John Cook recently told Township officials that predators contacting minors via the Internet was a growing concern for local law enforcement. Earlier this year, Springfield police arrested a Perth Amboy man for two alleged sexual assaults involving minors he met through Facebook.