Kearny, NJ – On February 23, 2026, a Kearny resident was taken into custody following a child luring and sexual offense investigation. The arrest occurred within three hours of the incident being reported to the Kearny Police Department.

At approximately 4:30 p.m., a juvenile was going door to door in the area of Quincy Avenue offering snow-shoveling services. The juvenile was hired by a Quincy Avenue resident and, upon completing the work, was invited into the residence to accept payment.

While inside, the resident reportedly presented pornographic material to the juvenile, exposed himself and engaged in a sexual act in front of the juvenile.

The incident was reported shortly after it occurred. Patrol officers and detectives responded, preserved evidence and initiated an investigation that led to the identification and arrest of the suspect later that same evening.

Robert Grohl, a 79-year-old male of Kearny, was charged with the following offenses:

N.J.S.A. 2C:13-6a – Luring or Enticing a Child

N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4a(1) – Endangering the Welfare of a Child

N.J.S.A. 2C:34-3b(2) – Obscenity for Persons Under 18

N.J.S.A. 2C:14-3b – Criminal Sexual Contact

Following his arrest, Grohl was transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility.

Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the Kearny Police Department Detective Bureau. All charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

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The Kearny Police Department encourages residents to report suspicious activity through its new Tips Management Portal, accessible at https://kearnynjpd.org/submit-a-tip/. All submissions can remain confidential.