Jersey City Man Charged With Sexually Assaulting 15-Year Boy in His Custodial Care

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:

A 53-year-old Jersey City man has been charged and arrested for aggravated sexual assault of a 15-year-old boy. The victim was in the custodial care of the defendant when the alleged assault occurred earlier this month.

Francisco Espinal, of Jersey City, was charged with Aggravated Sexual Assault in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2A(1), a crime of the first degree; Endangering the Welfare of a Child in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4A(1), a crime of the second degree; Aggravated Criminal Sexual Contact Sexual in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:14-3A, a crime of the third degree; and Hindering Apprehension in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3A(7), a crime of the third degree. He was arrested at the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit on Thursday, March 18, 2021 at approximately 2:30 p.m.

Prosecutor Suarez credited the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit for the investigation and arrest.

A detention hearing for Espinal is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, March 24, 2021.

The above charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6).