Bail Reduction Denied in Alleged Child Sex Offender Cases

A Gloucester County Superior Court judge denied lower bail to a pair of men charged in child sex offense cases on Friday, according to the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office.

Eighteen-year-old Charles J. Ware of Deptford is alleged to have engaged in oral sex with an 11-year-old girl in Mantua Township on October 25. His bail had been set at $150,000 for first-degree sexual assault and child endangerment.

Fredy O.Valle-Lemus, 51, of Woodbury, was detained on $50,000 bail for charges of aggravated sexual contact and child endangerment related to an incident with an eight-year-old girl whom he had been babysitting at his apartment on October 10.

'He cut off the relationship'

Ware, a Gloucester County College student with no prior criminal record, apparently met the alleged victim in his case through Facebook, on which his attorney William Buckman said the girl misrepresented her age.

Buckman said that when he discovered that the girl was a minor, “he cut off the relationship” according to a statement from the prosecutor's office.

Assistant Gloucester County Prosecutor Jacqueline Caban pointed out that Ware had met the girl more than a few times at the Deptford Mall and Chestnut Ridge Park in Mantua, sometimes driving her and her friends in his car.

Judge Smith said despite the circumstances, the legal statute in the case compels a bail amount at $150,000 at minimum. 

"Without 'suggested or proposed alternatives for Ware’s release, Judge Smith said, 'I see no reason to reduce this bail,'” according to a statement from the prosecutor's office. 

Victim's mother 'sought to withdraw complaints'

John Ianelli, an attorney for Valle-Lemus, told Judge Smith that the mother of the alleged victim in his case "has sought to withdraw complaints against Valle-Lemus, which he said were 'retaliatory' and 'about finances',” according to the prosecutor's office.

Prosecutor Caban said the eight-year-old reported "she was placed on a bed in the defendant’s apartment and was inappropriately touched and kissed," according to a statement from the prosecutor's office.

But Valle-Lemus, a Salvadoran native and Woodbury resident of more than 10 years, is wanted on a detainer from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, and would likely be taken into custody by federal agents if he is released.

Furthermore, Judge Smith added, Valle-Lemus' bail, like that of Ware, "was already 'at the bottom end of the existing range' for a second-degree crime," according to the prosecutor's office.