By: Richard L. Smith
A Newark man will spend decades in state prison after being convicted of sexually assaulting three women in the city, Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II announced.
Salaam Leeks, 39, of Newark, was sentenced to 60 years in state prison after a jury convicted him on June 12, 2025, of three counts of second-degree sexual assault and two counts of second-degree conspiracy to commit aggravated sexual assault.
According to prosecutors, Leeks assaulted three victims in Newark between 2015 and 2016 after falsely claiming that the women and their families were in danger from a street gang.
Authorities said he manipulated the victims into believing that engaging in sexual acts with him would protect them from harm.
Prosecutors said the victims were coerced and did not freely consent.
Assistant Prosecutors Meredith Mona and Brianna Sandroni tried the case before Judge Harold W. Fullilove, Jr., who also presided over the sentencing.
Assistant Prosecutor Mona said the sentence brings a measure of justice to the victims, who came forward years after being manipulated, threatened and sexually assaulted.
Leeks is not eligible for parole because he was on Parole Supervision for Life when he committed the offenses.