Man Sexually Assaulted 2 Kids While At Somerset Party: Prosecutor

SOMERSET, NJ — A New Brunswick man has been charged with sexually assaulting two kids while at a backyard party in the Somerset section of Franklin Township, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said.

On Saturday, Aug. 8, Francisco Leal-Ibarra, 40, of French Street, New Brunswick allegedly inappropriately touched the two juveniles, who are under the age of 16, during two separate incidents while they played on a swing set in the backyard of a Somerset home, Robertson said.

Detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Unit along with the Franklin Township Police Department investigated and identified Leal-Ibarra as the man who had inappropriately touched both victims, Robertson said.

Leal-Ibarra was arrested last Thursday and charged with one count of second-degree sexual assault by contact, two counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and one count of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact.

Leal-Ibarra was taken to the Somerset County Jail pending a bail detention hearing in this matter.

Anyone with information relating to the sexual assaults is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Sex Crimes/Child Abuse Unit at 908-231-7100 or the Franklin Township Police Department at 732-873-5533 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.

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

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