By: Richard L. Smith
Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II announced that a Newark man has been sentenced to 154 years in New Jersey State Prison following his conviction for sexually assaulting three minors over several years.
Terrence Mells, 42, of Newark, was convicted by an Essex County jury on November 14, 2025, of multiple serious offenses, including three counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, three counts of second-degree sexual assault, one count of third-degree aggravated criminal sexual contact, three counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and one count of first-degree witness tampering.
The Honorable Naazneen Khan, J.S.C., presided over both the trial and sentencing.
According to prosecutors, the abuse occurred repeatedly between March 2015 and November 2023.
Authorities said the victims were 12, 13, and 14 years old when the assaults began. During the investigation, prosecutors also established that Mells threatened one of the victims after learning he was under investigation.
Assistant Prosecutor Cynthia Teller, who tried the case alongside Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Byrnes, said the sentence reflects the seriousness of the crimes.
“This sentence sends a clear message that those who prey on the vulnerable will be held fully accountable,” Teller said. “The defendant’s actions were abhorrent and reprehensible. Because of the victims’ courage and the diligent work of law enforcement, justice has been served.”
Under New Jersey’s No Early Release Act (NERA), Mells must serve 85 percent of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole.
He will also be subject to registration requirements under Megan’s Law.