Man Sentenced to 35 Years in Prison for Sexually Assaulting Young Girl

Newark– Acting Essex County Prosecutor’s Theodore N. Stephens, II, announced today that Jose Santana, 60, of Belleville was sentenced to 35 years in New Jersey State prison by the Honorable Martin Cronin, Judge of the Superior Court, for sexually assaulting a 9-year-old little girl.

On Nov. 15, 2019 Santana was convicted by an Essex County jury of three counts of aggravated sexual assault, two counts of sexual assault, one count of possession of child pornography and one count of endangering the welfare of a child. Sentencing was delayed because of the pandemic. Santana has been incarcerated awaiting sentencing.

On Friday, Oct, 15 Judge Cronin sentenced Santana to 35 years. Under the No Early Release Act, he must serve 85 percent of his sentence before he will be eligible for parole.

“Hopefully, this will give closure to the family and this little girl will be able to rest easy knowing her brave actions will prevent him from hurting her or anyone else in the future,’’ said Assistant Prosecutor Peter C. Polidoro, who tried the case with Assistant Prosecutor Tony Gutierrez.

The assaults occurred on multiple occasions while the little girl was visiting Santana and his wife at their Belleville residence.

In addition to sexually assaulting the victim, Santana forced her to watch child pornography while the sexual assaults occurred. When officers executed a search warrant at the defendant’s home, they discovered child pornography on his computer.

“I hope that this sentence of 35 years sends a clear message that sexual abuse of a child will not be tolerated and will be punished severely,” said Assistant Prosecutor Gutierrez.

Prosecutor Stephens lauded the ECPO’s Special Victims Unit and the forensic investigation unit, Wynona’s House and the Belleville Police Department for bringing this case to a successful conclusion.

Ward-Jones was arrested on June 22, 2016, following an investigation conducted by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and the New Jersey State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The investigation focused on individuals using file sharing programs to distribute files depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of children. Officers executed a search warrant at Jones-Ward’s home and seized several devices which were later confirmed to contain numerous files of that nature.

On July 26, 2017, Jones-Ward pled guilty to one count of endangering the welfare of a child for sharing and/or making available, more than 25 files depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of children using peer-to-peer software. Under the terms of the plea agreement, in addition to the prison time, he will be placed on lifetime parole supervision and must register as a sex offender under Megan’s Law.

“There are children in this country, in fact all over the world, who are subjected to horrific sexual abuse because of people like this defendant who create a market for the trafficking of child pornography,’’ said Assistant Prosecutor Kathleen Lyons-Boswick, who handled the case.

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Laurino commended Assistant Prosecutor Deborah Freier and Detective Thomas Chung of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit, the New Jersey State Police Digital Technology Investigation Unit/Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Irvington Police Department for assisting with the investigation and prosecution of this case.

Man Sentenced to 50 Years for Sexually Girl

 Newark – Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced today that the Honorable Russell Passamano, Judge of the Superior Court, sentenced Korynn Hunt, 39, of Newark to 50 years in New Jersey state prison for repeatedly sexually assaulting a young girl over a seven year period.

“What this defendant did to this girl is reprehensible,’’ said Assistant Prosecutor Amber Loughran, who handled the case. “He stole her youth and destroyed her innocence. Yet, in the midst of all he did, she was able to confront him. And, today I hope she is able to begin the process of healing and reclaiming her life.’’

Under the No Early Release Act, Hunt must serve 41 and ½ years before he is eligible for parole. He has been in the Essex County Correctional Facility since October of 2014. The judge also put Hunt under lifetime parole supervision.

On May 16, Hunt pled guilty to a 26-count indictment charging him with multiple counts of aggravated sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child and child pornography. He sexually assaulted the victim two times a week for eight to nine years. The last act was captured in a 52 minute video that she secretly recorded during which he not only rapes her but verbally berates her.

In addition to the four years in New Jersey State Prison, George will have to register under Megan’s Law as a sex offender.

On March 11, 2014, George entered a guilty plea to second degree distribution of child pornography. He admitted procuring child pornography and allowing others to obtain it from him through the use of peer-to-peer software.

George was arrested in May 2011 by investigators from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit, the FBI, the Essex Fells Police and the Essex County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant Prosecutor Deborah A. Freier who handled the case said, “Child pornography is not a victimless crime. The sexual abuse captured in these images and videos involves real children whose exploitation continues with the circulation of these files and the knowledge that strangers can watch and trade the worst moments of their lives forever.”

“The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office takes this kind of exploitation and abuse of children very seriously and will prosecute these cases to the fullest extent of the law,” Freier added.