By: Richard L. Smith
Union County officials said a Fanwood man has been arrested and charged in connection with the kidnapping and sexual assault of a minor that took place in Irvington and Fanwood last month, Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel announced Tuesday.
Prosecutor Daniel said Mr. Keith Ashley-Drake, 52, is charged with first-degree kidnapping, first-degree aggravated sexual assault, second-degree sexual assault, and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child.
On March 24th, members of the Union County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit were notified by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office that a kidnapping had occurred in Irvington on March 17th and a subsequent sexual assault had occurred in Union County.
According to Prosecutor Daniel, an investigation launched by the Union County Special Victims Unit revealed that around 10 pm on March 17th, a 12-year-old female of Irvington was approached by Ashley-Drake while she was walking home from the movies.
The suspect coaxed the victim into his vehicle and took her to his Fanwood home, where he sexually assaulted her on March 18th.
The investigation resulted in the identification of Ashley-Drake as the suspect, and he was arrested on March 31st.
He is currently being held in the Essex County Jail pending a detention hearing on Wednesday, April 5, 2023.
This investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with further information about Ashley-Drake is being urged to contact Union County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit Sergeant Nick Veltre at (908) 347-7330 and Detective Craig Famoso at (908) 578-1036.