Man Sentenced For Sex Assault, Endangering Atlantic Co. Kids

ATLANTIC COUNTY, NJ — An Egg Harbor City man was sentenced to New Jersey State Prison for a 1996 aggravated sexual assault and 2003 endangerment of two Atlantic County children, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said.

Brian L. Avis, 60, was sentenced to an aggregate 17 years in state prison for both of the charges, Prosecutor William E. Reynolds said. He received 12 years for the aggravated sexual assault and five years for endangering the welfare of a child by sexual conduct, Reynolds said, which must be served consecutively.

Avis is also subject to Megan's Law and community supervision for life, Reynolds said. He pleaded guilty on June 6, 2022, and has no prior criminal history, Reynolds said.

Both of the victims and their families were present at the sentencing, Reynolds said. One victim said that Avis's actions caused her lifelong emotional trauma, and Avis apologized to both, Reynolds said.

The State was constrained by the laws that existed at the time Avis committed the offenses, Chief Assistant Prosecutor John Flammer, who represented the State, said.

"Since 1996, the Legislature has greatly enhanced the penalties for sexual offenses involving children. If committed today this defendant would have faced the potential for much more severe consequences," Flammer said.

Avis was charged in 2021 by Brigantine police and New Jersey State Police in the 25-year-old sexual assault case of a then-10-year-old Brigantine girl, officials previously said.

In 1996, Avis broke into a home in the middle of the night, assaulting the girl while she was sleeping and then fled when she woke up, officials said.

Police renewed efforts to solve the case in 2021, using a DNA sample from the girl's bed leading to the identification and charges against Avis, officials said.

When he was fingerprinted, it linked Avis to a 2003 sexual assault and burglary case involving a five-year-old Galloway girl, officials said.

On July 18, 2003, Avis broke into a Galloway home shortly before midnight, officials said. He fled when the girl's mother saw him, and she said her daughter's pajama bottoms were pulled down, according to officials.

"These cases were considered ‘cold cases’ with little to no leads as to the suspect’s identity," said Flammer.

“Today’s sentencing is the result of the diligent detective work by the members of our Cold Case Unit and our law enforcement partners who utilized modern day technology to bring these cases to a successful conclusion,” said Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. “The investigators never wavered in their efforts to achieve this sentence and bring justice to the victims.”

The cases were investigated by the City of Brigantine and Galloway Township Police Departments, the New Jersey State Police Cold Case Unit and the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Special Victims Unit.