Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Dennis Calo announced the arrest of Christian Pena-Ortiz, 20, of Westwood, on charges of Aggravated Sexual Assault and Endangering the Welfare of a Minor.
The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti and the Westwood Police Department under the direction of Chief Michael Pontillo.
According to authorities, on April 5th the Division of Child Protection and Permanency received information that Pena-Ortiz had engaged in sexual contact with a minor under the age of thirteen. As the result of the ensuing investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and the Westwood Police Department arrested Pena-Ortiz on Monday and charged him with two counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault and one count of Endangering The Welfare Of A Child.
Officials say Pena-Ortiz is currently lodged in the Bergen County Jail pending his first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack on April 9th.
Acting Prosecutor Calo states that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.