Crime & Safety

Man Accused Of Sexually Assaulting 2 Girls In Somerset County: Prosecutor

Janakiraman Somasundaram of Texas was known to the families of the victims who were both under 15 years old when the assaults happened: Cops

Janakiraman Somasundaram, age 41, Celina, Texas
Janakiraman Somasundaram, age 41, Celina, Texas (Somerset County Prosecutor's Office)

RARITAN, NJ — A Texas man has been extradited back to New Jersey where he faces charges of sexual abuse of two minors in Raritan Borough, said authorities.

Janakiraman Somasundaram, 41, Celina, reportedly was known to both of the victims' families, said Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of Detectives Francisco Roman, Jr. and Raritan Borough Police Department Chief Raymond Nolte.

On June 19, a 12-year-old girl reported being sexually assaulted by Somasundaram on three occasions between the ages of 8 to 11, according to McDonald.

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On June 23, a second female victim, age 15 disclosed two instances of sexual contact by Somasundaram that happened while she was 15 years old in Raritan Borough, said McDonald.

As a result of this investigation, Somasundaram was charged with three counts of second-degree sexual assault by sexual contact, two counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of a minor and one count of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact.

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Somasundaram had relocated to Texas and on July 5 he was apprehended without incident at his home in Celina, Texas by members of the Celina Police Department who were helping New Jersey authorities.

Somasundaram waived extradition from Texas and was taken to Somerville on July 18 where he is being held in the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing.

McDonald thanked authorities in the State of Texas, particularly Celina Police Department, and members of the Plano Police Department for their help in this investigation.

Anyone with information relating to the sexual assaults are asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes/Child Abuse Unit at 908-231-7100 or the Raritan Borough Police Department at 908-725-6200 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ.

Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

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