Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 34-year-old ELIJAH E. HOLDER of Hackensack, NJ, on charges of endangering the welfare of a child and aggravated assault. 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 Tuesday, October 21, 2025, the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit regarding the alleged assault of a juvenile. An investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Hackensack Police Department revealed that ELIJAH E. HOLDER physically assaulted thejuvenile by repeatedly striking the victim in Hackensack.

As a result of the investigation, on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, ELIJAH E. HOLDER was arrested in Bergenfield, NJ, and charged with second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-2a(2); and third-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(7). HOLDER 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. Prosecutor Musella would like to thank the Hackensack Police Department and the Bergenfield Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.