Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey announced today that a 40-year old man from Franklin Township has been sentenced to serve 17 ½ years in a New Jersey state prison for the sexual crimes he committed in multiple jurisdictions.
Officials said Thomas Canales, 40, of Franklin Township, was sentenced to serve an aggregate sentence of 17 ½ years in a New Jersey state prison. Sixteen years of the sentence is subject to the No Early Release Act. As such, Canales will have to serve 85 percent of that term before he can be released on parole.
Superior Court Judge Colleen Flynn, sitting in New Brunswick, ordered Canales to register as a Megan’s Law sex offender and also ordered that the defendant be placed on parole supervision for life upon his release from prison.
In addition Judge Flynn ordered a restraining order prohibiting the defendant, or anyone else on his behalf, to contact the victims or their families in any manner.
According to authorities, Canales was sentenced after he was found guilty by a jury on Jan. 2nd, of 7 criminal counts including 3 counts of sexual assault in the second degree, 3 counts of endangering the welfare of a child in the third degree, and one count of sexual contact in the fourth degree.
Officials said during a five week trial that began on November 28, 2017, Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Carver presented evidence and testimony showing that on various dates between April 19, 2016 and August 28, 2016 Canales committed sexual offenses against four victims, three of whom were children, in multiple jurisdictions including Edison, Highland Park, New Brunswick, and North Brunswick.
During the investigation, it was determined that Canales exposed himself to a seven-year-old girl in New Brunswick on July 3, 2016. In that case, he was convicted of sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child.
Authorities said he was also convicted of criminal sexual contact for improperly touching a 32-year-old woman at a playground in an apartment complex in Edison on August 25, 2016.
Additional charges were filed after a subsequent investigation determined that Canales exposed himself to an 11-year-old girl in North Brunswick on April 19, 2016. He was convicted in that case of sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child.
According to officials, he was also convicted of sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child for improperly touching a 11-year-old girl in Highland Park on August 28, 2016.