Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 45-year-old JOSE F. FAJARDO of Hackensack, NJ on charges of aggravated criminal sexual contact, criminal sexual contact, and endangering the welfare of a child. The arrest was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck and the Hackensack Police Department under the direction of Chief Michael Antista.

On Friday, December 13, 2024, the Hackensack Police Department contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit regarding the alleged sexual assault of a juvenile that had occurred in the past. An investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Hackensack Police Department revealed that JOSE F. FAJARDO sexually assaulted and endangered a juvenile in Hackensack, NJ on multiple occasions.

As a result of the investigation, on Monday, December 16, 2024, JOSE F. FAJARDO was arrested in Paramus, NJ and charged with second-degree sexual assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2b; two counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4a(1); and third-degree aggravated criminal sexual contact, N.J.S.A 2C:14-3a. FAJARDO was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending a first appearance in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack, NJ.

Prosecutor Musella states that the charges are merely accusations, and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. He would like to thank the Hackensack Police Department for its assistance in this investigation.