Authorities in Ocean County today said they charged a Lakewood man with assaulting nine young children. Cirilo M. Cholula, also known as Cirilo Moranhel-Cholula, 18, was charged with nine counts of aggravated assault and child endangerment, said Ocean County Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford and Lakewood Police Chief Robert Lawson. The children range in age from 4 to 7 years old, authorities said. Ford said the investigation started on June 13 when family members of one of the alleged victims contacted Lakewood police with a suspicion that Cholula had assaulted their young daughter. Lakewood police arrested Cholula, an undocumented resident, after spotting him on the street Tuesday night, said Deputy Chief Michael Mohel, a spokesman for the prosecutor’s office. He said Cholula knew the victims but would not elaborate on their relationship because details may identify the children. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorities were advised of the arrest and a detainer has been filed against Cholula. Cholula is being held in the Ocean County Jail in Toms River on $1 million bail. Ford encouraged parents who suspect their child may have had contact with Cholula to call the special victims unit of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 929-2027 or Lakewood police at (732) 363-0200. (Star Ledger).