According to Hudson County officials, on January 17, at approximately 9:40 p.m., members of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit arrested William Romero, 28, of Union City, on charges involving the sexual assault of a 15-year-old female victim from Union City.
He was arrested without incident at the Prosecutor’s Office in Jersey City.
The sexual assault allegedly occurred in a residential building on 21st Street in Union City on or about December 1, 2019 and was first reported to the Union City Police Department on January 8, 2020.
Officials say, Romero was arrested following an investigation by the Prosecutor’s Office SVU and the Union City Police Department. He is reportedly an acquaintance of the victim.
Romero has been charged with Sexual Assault in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2, a second-degree crime; Endangering the Welfare of a Child in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4b(3), a first-degree crime; Endangering the Welfare of a Child in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4a(1), a third-degree crime; and Criminal Sexual Contact in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:14-3, a fourth-degree crime.
Following his arrest, Romero was transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility in Kearny pending his first appearance.
The Prosecutor’s Office has filed a motion for pretrial detention of the defendant. A hearing is scheduled for Thursday, January 23rd.
Prosecutor Suarez credited the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit for the investigation and arrest with assistance from the Union City Police Department.
The above charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6).