By: Richard L. Smith
A Newark man and Union woman were arrested last week after being criminally charged with the sexual exploitation of a 14-year-old female, Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel announced today.
Union County officials said in a statement that Rony D. Game-Palacios, 30, is charged with second-degree sexual assault and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and Valdirene Nogueira, 45, is charged with first-degree promoting prostitution of a child, third-degree promoting prostitution, third-degree compelling another to engage in prostitution and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child.
According to Union County officials, in September of 2022, the Union County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit received a referral from the Union Police Department regarding the reported sexual assault of a 14-year-old female.
Officials said the investigation that followed revealed that Game-Palacios sexually assaulted the victim after Nogueira coerced her to have sex with him for money after supplying her with alcohol, according to Assistant Prosecutor Peter Benza who is prosecuting the case.
This remains an active investigation, and anyone with information about this matter or these defendants is urged to contact Special Victims Unit Detective Jessica Tattoli at 908-965-3885 or Detective Sergeant Nicholas Veltre at 908-965-3812.
Convictions on first-degree crimes are commonly punishable by terms of up to 20 years in state prison. Officials said convictions on second-degree criminal charges are punishable by 5 to 10 years and those on third-degree crimes can result in 3 to 5 years.
These criminal charges are mere accusations. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.