According to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, a 38 year-old janitor from Paterson has been arrested on sexual assault charges. Christopher Staten allegedly sexually assaulted a child in Garfield for two (2) years. Authorities say that Staten allegedly engaged in sexual activities with a child under the age of sixteen (16) on numerous occasions over two years. The Garfield Police Department received information about Staten on August 3, 2019 and began the investigation that lead to Staten’s arrest last Friday. Staten was charged with aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, aggravated sexual contact, and endangering the welfare of a child. He is being held at the Bergen New Bridge Center pending his first appearance at the Bergen County Superior Court. Click here to read more at www.Patersontimes.com.
Aggravated Sexual Assault is codified under N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2a, which provides:
a. An actor is guilty of aggravated sexual assault if he commits an act of sexual penetration with another person under any one of the following circumstances:
1. The victim is less than 13 years old;
2. The victim is at least 13 but less than 16 years old and
a. The actor is related to the victim by blood or affinity to the third degree; or
b. The actor has supervisory or disciplinary power over the victim by virtue of the actor s legal, professional, or occupational status; or
c. The actor is a resource family parent, a guardian, or stands in loco parentis within the household;
3. The act is committed during the commission, or attempted commission, whether alone or with one or more other persons, of robbery, kidnapping, homicide, aggravated assault on another, burglary, arson or criminal escape;
4. The actor is armed with a weapon or any object fashioned in such a manner as to lead the victim to reasonably believe it to be a weapon and threatens by word or gesture to use the weapon or object;
5. The actor is aided or abetted by one or more other persons and the actor uses physical force or coercion;
6. The actor uses physical force or coercion and severe personal injury is sustained by the victim;
7. The victim is one whom the actor knew or should have known was physically helpless, mentally defective or mentally incapacitated.
Aggravated Sexual Assault is a crime of the First Degree (the most serious under the Criminal Code), punishable by a term of imprisonment between 10 and 20 years in New Jersey State Prison, 85% of which must be served under the No Early Release Act (NERA) before the benefit of parole. Additionally, an Aggravated Sexual Assault conviction also carries with it the following requirements: Community Supervision for Life, Megan Law s Registration, and a psychosexual evaluation (commonly referred to in court as an Avenel evaluation ).
If you find yourself if the situation that you are charged with aggravated sexual assault, you should contact a lawyer immediately. Former Morris County Prosecutor, Alissa D. Hascup is skilled and experienced at representing individuals charged with the entire range of sexual offenses throughout the state of New Jersey. She is committed to ensuring your rights are protected in court and you get the best possible outcome for your case. Contact her office for a free consultation about your case. She is available 24/7 at 862-257-1200.
