A former police officer with the Newton Police Department in Sussex County is still being held in jail on sexual assault charges.
The incident reportedly occurred in December 2016. According to Sussex County NJ prosecutors, the suspect sexually assaulted an underage boy in the bathroom of a Burger King located in Hampton, New Jersey.
The victim was just 16 years of age when the suspect allegedly committed the sex crime.
Law enforcement conducted an investigation into the suspect and eventually placed him under arrest. The suspect was initially being held at the Sussex County Jail, but authorities soon transferred him to the Morris County Jail in Morristown NJ because of his ties to Sussex County law enforcement.
The suspect has been held at the Morris County Jail for more than a month – despite the fact that a Sussex County Superior Court judge reduced his bail amount from $200K to $150K. At the time of the bail reduction order, the suspect’s criminal defense attorney said that he was optimistic about the suspect being able to post bail.
The suspect’s case will soon go before a Sussex County grand jury. If the grand jury indicts him on the sexual offense charges, his case will likely head to trial.
The suspect used to work with the Newton police force, but he had to resign after pleading guilty to lewdness charges. The charges stemmed from an incident in which the suspect allegedly pulled over a male motorist and exposed himself.
For further information about this case, check out the NJ.com article, “Ex-Cop Remains Jailed on Burger King Sex Assault Charge Despite Lower Bail.”