Alleged Serial Rapist Sexually Assaulted 3 Women in Somerville: Prosecutor

SOMERVILLE, NJ — A Somerset County man was arrested for sexually assaulting three women while using a weapon to threaten them over four days in Somerville, authorities announced.

Deshawn Swindell, 21, of Hamilton Street, Somerville was arrested on Sunday, Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. and charged with 1st Degree Aggravated Sexual Assault, 1st Degree Robbery, 2nd Degree Sexual Assault, 3rd Degree Aggravated Criminal Sexual Contact, and Possession of CDS (Marijuana) under 50 grams, a Disorderly Persons Offense.

The first victim reported on Sept. 14, that an unknown male later identified as Swindle had threated her with a weapon while committing a sexual act against her in Somerville, Acting Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson, Acting Chief of County Detectives John W. Fodor and Somerville Borough Chief of Police Dennis Manning announced.

The second victim reported on Sept 16 that Swindle displayed a knife and then sexually assaulted her in Somerville. After the assault, Swindle robbed her of her cell phone before she escaped from the area, according to the report.

A third victim reported on Sept. 17 that she was sexually assaulted by Swindle. She was able to get away from from him and got help from a local resident. The Good Samaritan contacted the Somerville Police Department on the victim’s behalf, according to police.

Through an investigation Somerville Police Detectives and detectives with the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes Unit identified Swindell as the person responsible for the three sexual assaults.

Swindell was lodged in the Somerset County Jail with bail set by the Honorable Robert E. Reed, Pr.J.C. at $300,000 cash only.

Anyone with information regarding these incidents should contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Sex Crimes/Child Abuse Unit at (908) 231-7100, the Somerville Police Department (908)725-0331 or the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888- 577-TIPS (8477) or online at www.888577tips.org or www.scpo.net and click on either “Crime Stoppers” or “TIPS HOTLINE”.

All anonymous Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

(Image via SCPO: Deshawn Swindell, 21, of Hamilton Street, Somerville)

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