Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey and Chief John Zebrowski of the Sayreville Police Department announced that six of seven juveniles were taken into custody this evening on charges of juvenile delinquency arising from the attacks upon four victims in four separate incidents at Sayreville WarMemorial High School.
The six juveniles, ranging in age from 15 to 17 years old, are being detained by law enforcement authorities pending a Family Court decision on whether the youths will be held at a detention facility pending a court hearing, or will be released to the custody of their parents or guardians pending the hearing. The remaining juvenile defendant is being sought at this time.
The decision on placement of the juvenile defendants was not immediately available. It should be noted that under the law, complaints signed against juveniles are not public records and cannot be released. Their identities are being withheld because of their ages.
Three of the juvenile defendants are charged with aggravated sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual contact, conspiracy to commit aggravated criminal sexual contact, criminal restraint, and hazing for engaging in an act of sexual penetration upon one of the juvenile victims.
One of those juvenile defendants and the remaining four juvenile defendants were charged with various counts including aggravated assault, conspiracy, aggravated criminal sexual contact, hazing and riot by participating in the attack of the remaining victims.
The complaints charge that on various dates between September 19, 2014 and September 29, 2014, one or more of the juvenile defendants either held the victims against their will, while other juvenile defendants improperly touched the juvenile victims in a sexual manner.
It also is charged that in one instance, one of the juvenile victims was kicked during an attack.
The defendants will be required to appear before a Superior Court Judge in Family Court, but the hearing date has not been determined. Juvenile hearings are not open to the public.
No other court hearings have been scheduled.