A fugitive who remained at large for several weeks after being charged with the aggravated sexual assault of a child in Plainfield has been apprehended in Texas, acting Union County Prosecutor Grace H. Park announced Friday.
Walter Sosa, 33, is charged with first-degree aggravated sexual assault, second-degree sexual assault, and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child.
A Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit investigation initiated in early August revealed that Sosa sexually assaulted the victim, who is under the age of 18, numerous times during the previous seven months. While attempting to locate Sosa, investigators distributed to the local media and public a photo and description of him, but it was later discovered that he had fled the area.
Special Victims Unit investigators managed to track Sosa south, and he was arrested by members of the U.S. Marshals Service in Arlington, Texas late last month. He is to be extradited back to New Jersey today.
Anyone with information about Sosa’s activities still is being urged to contact Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit Sgt. Timothy Durkin at 973-698-9529 or Detective Nicholas Falcicchio at 908-721-8186.
Convictions on first-degree crimes are commonly punishable by 10 to 20 years in state prison.
These criminal charges are mere accusations. Each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Related story: https://www.rlsmedia.com/article/authorities-seek-publics-assistance-locating-sex-assault-suspect-last-seen-plainfield