School Bus Driver Indicted for Child Molestation in Hamilton Township
A 39-year-old man, who used to be a school bus driver, has been arrested on suspicion of molesting a girl. According to a news report in The Times of Trenton, the alleged incident involving the 12-year-old girl occurred between June 2010 and April 2011 in Hamilton Township. State authorities became suspicious of the man after dealing with the alleged victim's teenage brother for a drug addiction. The man's contract with the school district has not been renewed.
New Jersey Statute 2C:14-2 sets the parameters for which someone may be charged with sexual assault in New Jersey. An individual is said to be "guilty of aggravated sexual assault if he commits an act of sexual penetration with another person under any one of the following circumstances: The victim is less than 13 years old, the victim is under 16 and the suspect has supervisory power over the victim, the act is committed during another crime like robbery or kidnapping or there is a weapon involved." Sexual penetration does not, however, have to be involved for there to be a serious criminal charge.
Having a sex crime conviction on your record can affect your life professionally, socially, and financially. Not only do those convicted of sex crimes run the risk of losing their jobs, but in many cases, they can also lose their careers and their ability to earn a livelihood. They could also be required to register as a sex offender in the Department of Justice's sex offender registry.
If you or a loved one has been charged with a sex crime involving a child in New Jersey, please contact the NJ sex crime defense lawyers at Lependorf & Silverstein at (609) 240-0040 today. We will work diligently to protect your rights and your reputation. Call us today to find out how we can help.
