Howell T-Shirt Shop Ex-Owner Admits Sexual Contact With Child

FREEHOLD, NJ — The former owner of a custom T-shirt business in Howell has pleaded guilty to sexual contact with a child and with adults who were customers and his employees, the Monmouth County prosecutor's office announced.

Brian Young, 53, who had owned Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More in the Howell Center Shopping Plaza on Route 9, pleaded guilty Friday to third-degree endangering the welfare of a child and fourth-degree criminal sexual contact before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Dennis R. O’Brien, Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said.

Young was removed as the franchise owner in November 2018, according to a statement released by the corporate offices of Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More, which is headquartered in Florida.

"We were notified that the Monmouth County court has found a former franchise owner guilty on the counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child and fourth-degree criminal sexual contact," the statement said. "With this being the first time we’ve dealt with this matter among the 90-plus locations in our system, the news was truly saddening to hear. The safety and security of our customers and employees is of paramount importance."

"We have strict rules and policies as it relates to background checks and work conduct," the statement said. "We will continue to require our franchise locations and corporate office to hold recruitment and screening processes to the highest standards to protect our customers."

The statement said Young was "immediately removed from the system" as a franchisee in November 2018 when his arrest was first reported. The Monmouth County location has been under new ownership since then, according to the statement.

Under the terms of Young's plea agreement, he faces three years in prison and will be subject to the provisions of Megan’s Law and parole supervision for life upon his release from prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 10, 2020.

Young was arrested Nov. 9, 2018, following an investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and the Howell Township Police Department after police were told the child had been inappropriately touched by Young while at the T-shirt shop.

After Young's arrest, five adult victims who were customers and employees reported Young had also inappropriately touched them at the business.

This article has been updated with a statement from Big Frog's corporate ownership.

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