After Pandemic Delay, Belleville Man Sentenced For Sex Assault

BELLEVILLE, NJ — After a pandemic-caused delay, a Belleville man who sexually assaulted a 9-year-old girl in 2019 has been sentenced to 35 years in state prison, authorities announced Monday.

Jose Santana, 60, of Belleville, was sentenced to 35 years in New Jersey state prison last week, according to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office. Under the No Early Release Act, he must serve 85 percent of his sentence before he will be eligible for parole.

A jury convicted Santana of three counts of aggravated sexual assault, two counts of sexual assault, one count of possession of child pornography and one count of endangering the welfare of a child in November 2019.

However, sentencing was delayed until Friday due to the coronavirus pandemic, prosecutors said.

Santana has been incarcerated while awaiting sentencing.

According to prosecutors, the assaults occurred on multiple occasions while the girl was visiting Santana and his wife at their Belleville residence. In addition to sexually assaulting the victim, Santana forced her to watch child pornography while the sexual assaults occurred.

When officers executed a search warrant at the defendant’s home, they discovered child pornography on his computer, prosecutors said.

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens II credited the prosecutor’s office special victims unit and forensic investigation unit, Wynona’s House and the Belleville Police Department for bringing the case to a “successful conclusion.”

Sign up for Patch email newsletters. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Keep updated with public safety alerts at the Patch Belleville-Nutley Facebook page. Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com