Man Sentenced For Sexual Assault Of Young Girl: Prosecutor

A 22-year-old man has been sentenced to 20 years in New Jersey State prison sexually assaulting a girl he knew who was younger than 5 years old in South Jersey last year, Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina announced.

Jermaine J. Ward, of Maple Shade, also admitted that he took a nude picture of a young boy in Pennsauken. He must serve 15 years of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole.

He will serve his sentence at the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Woodbridge, Middlesex County. The facility, which houses sex offenders, is jointly operated by the New Jersey Department of Corrections and the New Jersey Department of Human Services.

Ward was arrested in June, and pleaded guilty in December, to first-degree aggravated sexual assault and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child. Ward was acquainted with his victims, Coffina said.

The crimes occurred between the fall of 2017 and the spring of 2018. The girl was asleep during the assault, and the boy was not aware that he was being recorded, Coffina said.

“Childhood is supposed to be a happy, carefree time, but this defendant’s heinous actions threatened to destroy that oasis for these young kids,” Coffina said. “Our Office will continue to do everything within its power to make sure that anyone who harms a child is brought to justice.”