Towaco Man Gets 16-Year Sentence for Child Sexual Assault

Defendant was also sentenced subject to the No Early Release Act, and Parole Supervision for Life.Photo byMorristown Minute

Juan A. Fernandez, 61, will serve 16 years without parole for sexually assaulting a juvenile male over a ten-year period, prosecutors say.

MORRIS COUNTY, N.J. - Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, Chief of Detectives Robert McNally, and Montville Township Police Chief Andrew Caggiano have announced the sentencing of Juan A. Fernandez, 61, of Towaco, New Jersey, following his guilty plea to aggravated sexual assault. Fernandez was sentenced to 16 years in New Jersey State Prison on October 4, 2024, by Judge Ralph Amirata.

Fernandez pled guilty on June 19, 2024, to one count of first-degree Aggravated Sexual Assault under N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2(a)(1). His sentence includes 16 years without the possibility of parole, as stipulated under the No Early Release Act. Upon his eventual release, Fernandez will be subject to Parole Supervision for Life, as well as the provisions of Megan’s Law, which mandates registration as a sex offender. The court also ordered Fernandez to have no contact with the victim or the victim’s family.

According to authorities, Fernandez's sexual abuse of the juvenile male victim began when the boy was six years old and continued until he was sixteen. The abuse came to light in March 2024, leading to a joint investigation by the Montville Township Police Department and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit.

The last five years of Fernandez’s sentence will be served at the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center, a facility that provides specialized treatment for convicted sexual offenders.

Prosecutor Carroll commended the coordinated efforts of the Montville Township Police and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, which led to the conviction and sentencing.

Fernandez’s sentencing marks the conclusion of a case that has shaken the local community, underscoring the importance of protecting vulnerable individuals and bringing offenders to justice.

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