By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Bergen County announced that additional charges have been filed against 58-year-old Marc Piovanetti of Fort Lee.
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced that these latest charges are the result of an ongoing investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck.
As previously reported, on Sunday, February 23, the New York City Police Department notified the Fort Lee Police Department of a missing child from New York City who was believed to be in Fort Lee, according to Bergen County officials.
Bergen County officials say subsequently, the Fort Lee Police Department located the juvenile, who was between the ages of thirteen and sixteen, at the residence of Marc Piovanetti.
The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit was notified, responded, and initiated a joint investigation with the Fort Lee Police Department, BCPO officials stated.
The investigation revealed that Piovanetti was a stranger to the victim, engaged in conversation with the child on a social media application, and made arrangements to meet.
Piovanetti provided the minor with marijuana and had explicit contact with the minor in his residence between Saturday, February 22, and Sunday, February 23, BCPO officials stated.
As a result of the investigation, Piovanetti was arrested in Fort Lee and charged with various counts of sexual assault, luring, and endangering the welfare of a child, BCPO officials say.
Piovanetti remained in custody at the Bergen County Jail pending further action by the Court, Bergen County officials said.
According to Bergen County officials, since the arrest in February 2025, detectives determined that Marc Piovanetti violated provisions of a judicial order issued in this matter by having direct and indirect contact with a victim and a co-defendant involved in this case between April and May 2025.
BCPO officials stated that on Tuesday, July 8, as a result of the ongoing investigation, Marc Piovanetti was additionally charged with third-degree witness tampering, third-degree criminal coercion, fourth-degree contempt of court order, and contempt of court order, a disorderly persons offense.
Piovanetti was served with these latest charges while already in custody at the Bergen County Jail, Bergen County officials said.
BCPO authorities said he remains held pending further action by the Court for the various charges filed in this matter.