An Atlantic City attorney was convicted Friday, on charges of endangering the welfare of a child by sexual conduct Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner announced.
David Alcantara, 59, was tried on charges of endangering the welfare of a child by sexual conduct on a girl during a span of time beginning when she was 10 years old over the course of several years.
The State alleged that Alcantara began endangering the victim in 2005, when she was 10-years-old, and continued to endanger her through 2012. Friday afternoon an Atlantic County Jury return a guilty verdict about an hour after deliberations began in the five day trial.
In 2012, after the victim told the police about the defendant’s sexual conduct toward her, the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Crimes Against Children Unit initiated an extensive investigation.
Throughout the course of the trial the State presented evidence showing that Alcantara would repeatedly engage in acts that included touching the child’s buttocks and repeatedly walking in on her in the shower.
“The extent of the defendant’s sexual conduct directed at this young girl throughout this timeframe was extremely disturbing. The victim who is now 22 is grateful for this verdict. We appreciate that these jurors were able to understand what this defendant did to this child,” said Chief Assistant Prosecutor John Flammer who tried the case with Assistant Prosecutor Jake Bayak.
Upon the guilty verdict Judge Bernard DeLury revoked the defendant’s bail and remanded him to the Atlantic County Justice Facility where he will remain pending sentencing on February 22, 2018.
At sentencing the defendant faces up to 10 years New Jersey State Prison and is subject to Megans Law Registration and Parole Supervision for Life.
Anyone with information involving serious crimes is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7800 or go to the Prosecutor’s Office Web site at http://www.acpo.org/tips.html and provide information by filling out the form anonymously on the Submit a Tip page. People can also call Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234 or 1-800-658-8477 (TIPS) or visit the Crime Stoppers Website at http://www.crimestoppersatlantic.com/. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those who commit crimes in Atlantic County.