Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes announces the arrest of a 16-year-old juvenile male, from Paterson. The juvenile was arrested on June 1, after an investigation conducted by the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit.
According to county officials, the juvenile is charged with two counts of first-degree Aggravated Sexual Assault; one count of second-degree Sexual Assault; and one count of third-degree Endangering the Welfare of the Child. The juvenile was charged and transported to the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center.
County officials said that on May 20, the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office received a report of a 9-year-old child who disclosed being sexually assaulted by the juvenile at a residence in Paterson.
Thereafter, the Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit interviewed the victim and several witnesses.
The investigation revealed that the juvenile began sexually assaulting the child when the child was five years old with the sexual conduct continuing until the disclosure. At the conclusion of the investigation, the juvenile was charged.
A juvenile delinquency complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the juvenile is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office asks anyone with additional information about this incident or other incidents regarding this individual to contact them on their tips line at 1-877-370-PCPO.