A Plainfield man has been charged in connection with a sexual assault that occurred in the city earlier this year, Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel and Acting Plainfield Police Director Captain David Guarino jointly announced Thursday.
Officials said Mr. Terence Rhue, 22, is charged with first-degree aggravated sexual assault with a weapon, third-degree aggravated criminal sexual contact with a weapon, and two related fourth-degree weapons offenses.
On October 4, members of the Plainfield Police Department responded to a residence on Randolph Road in Plainfield following reports of a sexual assault by an armed individual at that location, according to Union County Assistant Prosecutors Caroline Lawlor and Bryan Tiscia, who are prosecuting the case.
DNA evidence collected at the scene of the October 4th incident was processed through the Prosecutor’s Office Forensic Laboratory for testing, where analysis revealed a strong match to Rhue.
This investigation was led by the Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and the Plainfield Police Department, with assistance from the Union County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Unit.
These new charges are in addition to several charges already pending against Rhue for his alleged role in a home invasion and sexual assault that took place in Westfield on October 19, 2021.
Rhue has remained lodged in the Essex County Jail since his October arrest. A first appearance for the additional charges isscheduled for later today.
Anyone with information about this matter is still urged to contact Prosecutor’s Office Detective Annie Coll at 908-347-2474 or PPD Detective Carlos Navarro at 908-753-3415.
Convictions on crimes of this nature are commonly punishable by terms of up to twenty years in state prison.
These criminal charges are mere accusations.
Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.