Man, Woman Charged In Sex Assault Probe Of Missing NYC Child: Bergen County Prosecutors

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A Fort Lee man and woman have been charged in connection with an assault investigation of a child who was reported missing from New York City, Bergen County prosecutors said Monday.

Marc Piovanetti, 58, and Jennifer Piovanetti, 50, were both charged with endangering the welfare of a child, and Marc Piovanetti was also charged with four counts of sexual assault on Sunday, said the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office.

Prosecutors said that on Sunday, the New York City Police Department notified the Fort Lee Police Department about a missing child from New York City who was believed to be in the Fort Lee area.

Fort Lee police found the child, who is between age 13 and 16 "in the company of Marc Piovanetti and Jennifer Piovanetti," prosecutors said.

Investigators determined that Marc Piovanetti, a stranger to the victim, began talking to the child on TurnUp, a social media application, and made arrangements to meet, said Bergen County Prosecutors.

Then, he provided the child with marijuana and sexually assaulted the child in his residence between Saturday and Sunday, prosecutors said.

Detectives determined that Jennifer Piovanetti "was at home in the same residence at the time of the incident, and she was aware of the child’s presence, along with another child under the age of 13 who was also there," prosecutors said.

Marc Piovanetti was arrested in Fort Lee and charged with four counts of second-degree sexual assault, second-degree luring, second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and two counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, prosecutors said.

He was placed into the custody of the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, pending a first appearance in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack, prosecutors said.

Jennifer Piovanetti was charged with second-degree and third-degree endangering and also placed into the custody of the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, to await a first appearance in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack.

The investigation is ongoing, prosecutors said.

Any parent or guardian who determines that their child received inappropriate online communications from Marc Piovanetti may contact the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Tips Line at (201) 226-5532.