Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced today that Hakim Y. Jones, 23, of Newark was arraigned yesterday before the Honorable Michael A. Petrolle after the return of a 38-count indictment by the Grand Jury.
The indictment alleges that the defendant committed aggravated sexual assaults of five women and girls over a 10 day period between March 5, 2013 and March 15, 2013. Jones is charged with five counts of 1st degree Kidnapping, 16 counts of 1st degree Aggravated Sexual Assault, five counts of 1st degree Robbery and four counts of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, specifically a handgun, as well as various lower degree offenses.
It is alleged in the indictment that on four different occasions between March 5, 2013 and March 15, 2013 Jones preyed upon women who were out alone or in a pair, threatened them with a gun, forced them to a more remote location and sexually assaulted them before robbing them of their possessions and fleeing the area.
Bail was previously set on March 19, 2013 at $600,000 cash or bond. The defendant faces life in prison, if he is found guilty of the charges.
The defendant is presumed innocent unless or until he either pleads guilty or is found guilty in a court of law.
