By: Yuritza Arroyo
Morris County authorities announce the arrest of Michael Figueroa, 31, of Jefferson Township, on Aggravated Sexual Assault and related charges.
According to officials, it is alleged that a narcotics investigation led investigators to obtain a search warrant for Figueroa’s residence.
Officials said the search resulted in the seizure of multiple handguns, a pump action rifle, approximately eleven (11) bricks of suspected heroin weighing less than one-half ounce, a bag of suspected cocaine weighing less than one-half ounce, ammunition, and one digital scale.
Figueroa was charged on April 19 with two counts of Certain second-degree Persons not to have Weapons, two counts of second-degree Possession of a Firearm while Distributing Drugs, two counts of third-degree Possession of a CDS, two counts of third-degree Possession of a CDS with Intent to Distribute, and one count of fourth-degree Possession with Intent to Distribute Drug Paraphernalia.
According to Jefferson Township Police, following his arrest, investigators discovered material which depicted the alleged sexual abuse of a child under 13 years of age on Figueroa’s smartphone.
It is alleged that the sexual assaults of this child occurred over the course of two years at the defendant’s residence in Jefferson Township.
Investigators also located additional images of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) on the defendant’s phone.
Police say on May 1, Figueroa was charged with four counts of first degree Aggravated Sexual Assault, three counts of second-degree Sexual Assault, two counts of second degree Endangering the Welfare of a child (sexual conduct and physical abuse), one count of first-degree Production of CSAM, one count of second degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Filming Sexual Act), and one count of third-degree Possession of CSAM.
The State filed a Motion for Pretrial Detention, which was granted following a Detention Hearing on May 5.
As a result, Figueroa will remain in the Morris County Correctional Facility in accordance with the Criminal Justice Reform Act.