Crime & Safety
Middletown Police Officer Charged With Sex Assault Of Teen
He knew where the teen hung out with her friends, and he frequented those areas in his patrol car and while on duty, said the prosecutor.
MIDDLETOWN, NJ — A Middletown Police officer has been charged with sexually assaulting a minor, and he has since been suspended without pay from the Middletown Police Department.
Justin R. Skelly, 25, who lives in the Port Monmouth section of Middletown, was charged Jan. 10 with second-degree sexual assault of a victim ages 16- to 17-years-old by a supervisor and third-degree child endangerment - sexual conduct with a child.
According to the affidavit, Skelly had numerous interactions with a 17-year-old girl between Aug. 12 and Dec. 7 2024. In New Jersey, the age that a teen can consent to a sexual relationship is 16. However, Skelly was charged because he, it could be argued, was in a formal supervisory role over the teen girl as a police officer. In those cases, the age of consent is raised to 18.
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The prosecutor alleges he met the teen girl numerous times, and provided her with alcohol. He knew where the teen would hang out with her friends, and he frequented those areas in his patrol car and while he was on duty, according to the affidavit. He is also accused of engaging in sexual intercourse with the teen girl, a minor.
"The investigation revealed that on diverse dates between Aug. 12, 2024 and Dec. 7, 2024, Middletown Police Officer Justin Skelly provided a 17 year old female with alcohol and engaged in sexual intercourse with her," according to the affidavit, provided by the Monmouth County Prosecutor's office.
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"Skelly also engaged in communications of a sexual nature with the 17-year-old female. During this same time frame, Officer Skelly would often frequent areas where the victim was known to congregate with friends, while he was on duty and would communicate with the victim while on duty and from his police vehicle."
He was charged with sexual assault of a victim ages 16- to 17-years-old by a supervisor, because it could be interpreted he had supervisory or enforcement power over the teen girl because he was a police officer.
Skelly has been suspended without pay from the Middletown Police Department while the case is being resolved, police spokesman Paul Bailey said.
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