Newark Man Sexually Abused Underage Family Member, Found Guilty

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — An Essex County jury convicted a man of sexual assault and other crimes earlier this week after he abused an underage family member, authorities announced Thursday.

Javier Freire-Ramos, 42, of Newark, sexually abused the victim multiple times between May 2021 and February 2022. She was 11-years-old when the abuse started, according to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.

A jury convicted Freire-Ramos on two counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, three counts of second-degree sexual assault by contact, and one count of endangering the welfare of a child.

The jury returned its verdict on Monday following a three-day trial.

Freire-Ramos is scheduled for sentencing on Feb. 6, 2026. He faces a potential sentence of 25 years to life in New Jersey state prison, prosecutors said.

“It took extraordinary courage for the child victim to come forward and testify about the abuse,” Assistant Prosecutor Zhen Liu said.

The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office credited the Newark Police Division with aiding the investigation.

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