Atlantic City Man Convicted of Sexually Assaulting Teenage Boy, Gets Decade in Prison

An Atlantic City NJ man is headed to prison for several years after being convicted of sexually assaulting a juvenile.

The defendant is a 55-year-old man who is from Atlantic City, New Jersey. He was accused of committing the sex crime at his AC residence on January 8, 2012. The defendant’s teenage son was having a sleepover party and invited a few friends to spend the night at the house.

One of the kids invited to the sleepover was a 14-year-old boy. After leaving the house and returning to his home, the victim spoke with his mother and told her that the defendant had assaulted him. The victim’s mom notified the Atlantic City Police Department, which immediately notified the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office so that an investigation could be opened.

The same day of the sexual assault, the suspect was placed under arrest by AC law enforcement. He was subsequently charged with a number of sexual offenses, including sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child.

More than one year later, in March 2013, an Atlantic County grand jury indicted the suspect on both criminal charges. While the charges were pending, the suspect remained free on $250,000 bail.

Now that the defendant has been convicted and sentenced in the case, his days of freedom are likely over for a while. He was convicted at a trial in Atlantic County Superior Court earlier this year and was recently sentenced by the superior court judge. The judge imposed a sentence of 10 years in New Jersey State Prison, which probably comes with a requirement that the defendant serve at least 85 percent of the sentence before he becomes eligible for release on parole. The mandatory minimum term of incarceration in this type of case is set forth in the No Early Release Act (NERA).

After the sentence was handed down by the Atlantic County judge, the assistant prosecutor who handled the sex crime case spoke with the media and called the entire situation “a tragedy” that profoundly affected the victim and his family. Ultimately, said the prosecutor, “justice was served.”

After the suspect has completed his prison sentence, he will almost certainly be required to register as a convicted sex offender under Megan’s Law.

For further information, see the NJ.com article, “A.C. Man Gets 10 Years for Sexually Assaulting Teen during Sleepover.”

If you have been accused of sexual assault, criminal sexual contact, or any other sex crime in South Jersey, your future and your freedom could be at stake. That’s why you need a skilled criminal defense attorney on your side throughout the legal process. The experienced Atlantic County criminal defense lawyers at the Law Offices of John W. Tumelty will help you fight your criminal charges. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation about your case.