Last Friday, Cliffside Park police arrested a 22-year-old man on charges that he sexually abused an 11-year-old girl.
The girl informed school authorities that Luan Silva had engaged in inappropriate sexual activity with her in the girl’s home for several years. This prompted school authorities to notify the NJ Division of Child Protection, which then called law enforcement authorities.
After being arrested, Mr. Silva was charged with aggravated sexual assault andendangering the welfare of a child.
In New Jersey, aggravated sexual assault is codified under N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2a. According to the statute, a person is guilty of aggravated sexual assault if he commits an act of sexual penetration with a victim who is less than 13 years old. If convicted, Mr. Silva could face a term of incarceration of between 10 and 20 years in New Jersey State Prison. Additionally, the No Early Release Act (NERA) could apply if Mr. Silva is convicted of sexual assault. According to the NERA, Mr. Silva would be required to serve at least 85% his sentence. Beyond that, under the provisions of N.J.S.A. 2C:7:2, even after he is released from prison, Mr. Silva would be required to register as a sex offender.
Mr. Silva is currently being held at the Bergen County Jail in Hackensack on $400,000.00 bail.
For more information, see the NorthJersey.com article entitled “Cliffside Park Man Is Charged with Sexually Abusing Girl.”
