Man Sexually Assaulted Girl, 4, Prosecutor Says

An Ocean County man is facing aggravated sexual assault charges, after he allegedly assaulted a 4-year-old girl on two occasions, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.

Belsay Guzman Hernandez, 53, of Lakewood, was arrest Thursday and charged with two counts each of aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child, said Al Della Fave, spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.

Della Fave said the investigation started with a referral the prosecutor’s office received Tuesday from the state Division of Child Protection and Permanency. Hernandez knew the girl, and the ivestigation alleges he sexually
assaulted her on two occasions.

Senior Assistant Prosecutor Terry Linardakis reviewed the investigation by Lakewood Detective Pete Aakjer’s and Detective Melissa Matthews of the prosecutor’s office’s special victims unit and approved the charges, he said.

Hernandez was arrested at Lakewood Police headquarters and is being held at the Ocean County Jail in Toms River in lieu of $150,000, no 10 percent, set by Judge Wendel E. Daniels. He also was ordered to not have contact with the victim. Additionally, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement was notified.

The media and the public are reminded that criminal charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.