Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey and Director Anthony Caputo of the New Brunswick Police Department announced that a man from New Brunswick was arrested and charged today with sexually assaulting a 23-year old foreign exchange student in a New Brunswick residence in which individual rooms are for rent.
According to authorities, Emmanuel Romero, 22, of New Brunswick was charged with 2 counts of aggravated sexual assault in the 1st degree, 1 count of aggravated assault in the 2nd degree, 2 counts of aggravated assault in the 3rd degree, 1 count of aggravated criminal sexual contact in the 3rd degree, 1 count burglary in the 2nd degree and 1 count of obstruction in the 4th degree.
Officials say Romero, who resides at the New Brunswick residence is being held at the Middlesex County Adult Corrections Center in North Brunswick pending an initial court appearance in New Brunswick Superior Court.
Police arrested him and charged him during an investigation by Detective Victor Delgado of the New Brunswick Police Department and Detective Oscar Ayala of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.
During the investigation it was determined that Romero entered the bedroom of the foreign exchange student on July 25th at approximately 2 am while she was sleeping and began strangling and sexually assaulting the 23-year old female. A struggle ensued, and the victim sustained serious injuries after her descent down a flight of stairs. She was taken to a nearby hospital and required surgery for her injuries.
Police began the investigation after another resident called 911.
The investigation is active and is continuing.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Delgado at (732) 745-5200, or Detective Ayala at (732) 745-4045.
As is the case with all criminal defendants, the charges against Romero are merely accusations and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.