By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Somerset County and the Franklin Township Public Safety Director Quovella M. Maeweather announced the arrest of Mateo Espinal-Brito, 42, of Franklin Township, in relation to an aggravated sexual assault that occurred in Franklin Township on Monday, September 11, 2023.
Prosecutor John P. McDonald stated that on Monday, September 11, at approximately 5:00 a.m., the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes/Child Abuse Unit was notified by the Franklin Township Police of a report that an adult female victim was sexually assaulted by Mateo Espinal-Brito, who is known to her.
According to officials, the female victim was interviewed at the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Child Advocacy Center by a detective from the Somerset County Sex Crimes/Child Abuse Unit.
The victim disclosed being sexually assaulted and physically assaulted by Mateo Espinal-Brito in the early morning hours of Monday, September 11, officials say.
Authorities say an investigation was conducted by detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes/Child Abuse Unit and detectives from the Franklin Township Police.
Officials said on Monday that because of this investigation, Mateo Espinal-Brito was placed under arrest at the Franklin Township Police Department without incident.
Defendant Espinal-Brito was charged with 1st-degree Aggravated Sexual Assault, 2nd-degree Sexual Assault, and 2nd-degree Aggravated Assault-Strangulation and was lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing in this matter, officials stated.