Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office

25 Kirkpatrick Street, 3^rd Floor, New Brunswick, New Jersey, 08901 (732) 745-3300

*News Release* Date: January 26, 2010

Two teens charged in sex assault

Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce J. Kaplan and Monroe Police Chief John J. Kraivec today announced the arrest of two juvenile males on charges of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl on a school bus last week.

The juveniles, aged 15 and 16, were arrested on January 23, 2010, on charges of aggravated sexual assault, aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of the girl. The 16 year old also was charged with a count of making terroristic threats.

Following their arrest, the defendants were held at the Middlesex County Juvenile Detention Center. During a Family Court hearing in New Brunswick on January 25, 2010, Superior Court Judge Roger W. Daley ordered the defendants to remain at the center pending further court action.

The defendants, whose names are being withheld because of their ages, were arrested and charged as juveniles after the girl and an unidentified witness reported the assault to school officials in Monroe on January 22, 2010. School officials subsequently notified police.

The two were arrested and charged following an investigation by the Monroe Police Department and the Sex Crimes Unit of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.

During the investigation it was determined that the defendants, who were the girl’s classmates, sexually assaulted her on the bus on the afternoon of January 21, 2010. In addition, the 16 year old threatened her immediately after the attack.

Anyone with information on the incident, or has information on similar incidents, is asked to call Detective Jason Grosser, or Detective Louis Winn, both of the Monroe Police Department, a (732) 521-0222, or Investigator Daniel Ruschak of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745-3600.