Holy Name Employee Charged With Sexual Assault of Underage Girl, Police Say

NEW MILFORD -- A employee was arrested Nov. 8 on sexual assault charges for allegedly engaging in inappropriate sexual conduct with an underage girl, Borough Police Chief Frank Papapietro said Thursday.

Mharck Roxas, 24, of New Milford, was charged with one count of aggravated sexual assault and one count of endangering the welfare of a child after a joint investigation by New Milford Police and the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Unit, police said.

Papapietro confirmed Roxas worked at Holy Name Hospital Medical Center in Teaneck as a nurse assistant. A medical center spokeswoman declined to comment. 

The alleged sexual abuse of a female juvenile acquaintance of Roxas was reported to New Milford Sgt. Frank Ranaci who led the investigation in conjunction with the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Unit. 

"I am very pleased with the detective work of Sgt. Ranaci and the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Unit. They brought a quick resolution to a very difficult situation," Papapietro said. "I am also very grateful for the cooperation and expertise provided by the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office," he added.

Bail was set by Judge Donald Venezia at $100,000 with no ten percent option. Venezia also ordered that Roxas have no contact with the victim, and was ordered by the court to surrender his passport, police said. Roxas was being held at the Bergen County Jail Thursday, records show. 

Arraignment is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 30.