By: Tracie Carter
A Union County judge sentenced Ahmed Andre, a 62-year-old resident of Elizabeth, to 22 years in state prison for the repeated explicit contact of two young girls over 11 years, Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel announced today.
Andre was convicted on March 5, 2024, of a range of charges: one count of first-degree aggravated explicit contact, four counts of second-degree explicit contact, two counts of third-degree aggravated criminal explicit contact, two counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of a minor, and one count of fourth-degree criminal explicit contact.
On May 29, 2024, Union County Superior Court Judge Candido Rodriguez Jr. handed down the 22-year sentence, stipulating that Andre must serve at least 85% of the sentence before being eligible for parole.
Union County Assistant Prosecutor Peter Benza revealed that the investigation showed Andre had explicit contact with the juvenile victims multiple times, starting when they were just nine and ten years old.
The investigation began following a referral from the Elizabeth Public School District and was conducted by Detective Sergeant Joanne, Son of the Special Victims Unit of the Union County Prosecutor’s Office.
“This sentence may not erase the trauma inflicted on the victims, but it sends a clear message: sexual assault will not be tolerated,” Prosecutor Daniel said.
“The Union County Prosecutor’s Office is committed to pursuing the prosecution of individuals who prey on vulnerable children.”
The case underscores the commitment of the Union County Prosecutor’s Office and local law enforcement to protect minors from sexual predators and ensure that justice is served.
The sentence aims to provide some measure of closure for the victims while reinforcing the zero-tolerance stance on explicit contact within the community.