Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of Mr. Darnell Jefferson, 38, of New York City, NY, on charges of Endangering The Welfare Of A Child and Possession Of Narcotic Paraphernalia.
The arrests are the result of a joint investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Cliffside Police Department.
According to officials, on Friday, December 25, the Division of Child Protection and Permanency contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit regarding a three-year-old child who was taken by ambulance to Hackensack University Medical Center due to ingesting marijuana edibles and becoming lethargic and ultimately unresponsive.
The investigation revealed that the edible marijuana was brought to the residence by Jefferson.
As a result of the investigation, on Friday, December 25, Jefferson was arrested and charged with one count of Endangering The Welfare of a Child and one count of Possession Of Narcotic Paraphernalia. Jefferson was arrested and charged with one count of Endangering The Welfare Of A Child and one count of Possession Of Narcotic Paraphernalia.
He was processed and released pending their first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court.
Officials reported that the child remains in critical condition at Hackensack University Medical Center.
Prosecutor Musella states that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.