Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced today that an Essex County jury convicted Juan Gonzalez, 47, of Newark of second degree sexual assault of a 21-year-old woman.
The victim was a house guest at Gonzalez’s home in Newark when she was sexually assaulted on Aug. 1, 2010. She was asleep on a downstairs sofa when the defendant assaulted her. In addition to sexual assault, the jury also convicted Gonzalez of 4th degree criminal sexual contact. The jury deliberated for approximately two hours following the one week trial before finding the defendant guilty.
The Honorable Rachel Davidson, Judge of the Superior Court, immediately revoked Gonzalez’s bail and remanded him to the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark.
Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 7, 2011. Gonzalez faces 5 to 10 years in state prison when he is sentenced.
“We will seek the maximum sentence in this case given the defendant’s criminal history,’’ said Assistant Prosecutor Eric Plant, who tried the case.
Gonzalez has four prior arrests and two prior convictions. He was on five years probation for child abuse at the time he was arrested for the sexual assault.
