Officials in Passaic County announced the pretrial detention of Mr. Zariq T. Hewitt, 25, of Paterson.
Officials said police arrested Mr. Hewitt without incident on September 3, 2021, after a lengthy investigation conducted by the Wanaque Police Department, in conjunction with the Sexual Investigations Unit of the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office.
Mr. Hewitt is charged with first-degree aggravated sexual assault and second-degree sexual assault in connection to an incident in 2019.
On March 24, officials said Wanaque Police Department received a report of a sexual assault during a large house party at 159 Greenwood Avenue.
Police said the victim alleged that at one point during the party, she was unconscious and was then awakened by the nonconsensual act of penetration by a man who was later identified as Zariq T. Hewitt.
At a detention hearing on Monday, September 13, 2021, the Honorable Scott T. Rumana, J.S.C. granted the State’s motion for the pretrial detention of Mr. Hewitt.
If convicted, Mr. Hewitt will also be subject to Parole Supervision for Life and Megan’s Law registration requirements.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.