By: Yuritza Arroyo
Passaic County authorities announced that Jose Elmer Enriquez, 48, of Paterson pled guilty to sexually assaulting a child. Mr. Enriquez was arrested without incident on July 23, 2020, after an investigation conducted by the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit.
According to officials, on July 20, 2020, the Paterson Police Department contacted the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office on a report of a child being sexually abused.
Officials said thereafter, Prosecutor’s Office Detectives interviewed the victim and multiple witnesses. The victim reported being sexually abused by Mr. Enriquez on numerous occasions at the child’s home in Passaic between August 2014 and November 2017.
On July 5, 2023, Mr. Enriquez pled guilty to two counts of second-degree Sexual Assault, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2b, before the Honorable Imre Karaszegi, Jr, J.S.C.
Pursuant to the terms of the negotiated plea agreement, the State has recommended that Mr. Enriquez serve a total of 12 years in New Jersey State Prison, with 85% of the term to be served before parole eligibility pursuant to the No Early Release Act.
According to officials, upon release from prison, Mr. Enriquez will be subject to the Special Sentence of Parole Supervision for Life and registration requirements pursuant to Megan’s Law.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 6, 2023, at 1:30 p.m.