Man Gets 15-Year Sentence For Molesting 4-Year-Old Girl

Lakewood, NJ -- A Lakewood man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for molesting a 4-year-old girl who was known to him, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office announced Friday.

Belsay Guzman Hernandez, 53, of Lakewood was sentenced to 15 years in prison with 15 years of parole ineligibility on first-degree sexual assault by Judge James M. Blaney, said Al Della Fave, spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office. Hernandez also was sentenced to parole supervision for life, Megan's Law registration and ordered to not have contact with the victim under Nicole's Law, Della Fave said.

Hernandez was arrested June 11, 2015 after Lakewood Police Detective Pete Aakjer and Ocean County Prosecutor’s Special Victims Unit Detective Melissa Matthews investigated allegations that Hernandez had assaulted the girl on two occasions. The investigation was based on a referral from the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, Della Fave said.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant Prosecutor Terry Ann Linardakis. Debra Giordano from the Victim/Witness Unit of the prosecutor's office, along with Betty Valdes, assisted the family throughout the process.

Hernandez has been in jail since the time of his arrest, Della Fave said.