Man Arrested, Charged In Maplewood Sexual Assault: Prosecutor

MAPLEWOOD, NJ - A 40-year-old Irvington man has been arrested and charged with the assault that took place in Maplewood on Tuesday, according to a release from Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II and Maplewood Police Chief Jim DeVaul.

Muhammad Sharif, 40, has been charged with aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault and burglary, officials said. After an extensive investigation, detectives from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and the Maplewood Police Department took Sharif into custody on Saturday, officials said.

Stephens commended the efforts of the members of his office’s Special Victims Unit and Major Crimes Unit as well as detectives from the Maplewood Police Department.

“Personnel from both agencies worked tirelessly during this joint investigation and their efforts resulted in the swift arrest of the suspect,” said Stephens.

Sharif has been remanded to the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark pending an appearance in the Essex County Central Judicial Processing Court (CJP). The investigation is continuing at this time, Stephens said.

(Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

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