A North Bergen, New Jersey, man faces second-degree sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child after law enforcement arrested him. Thirty-two-year-old Jeffrey Munguia is a former teacher at Carteret Middle School in nearby Carteret, NJ. Per the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office, he has been accused of sexually assaulting a minor when they were his student in 2022.

The fact that Munguia's accuser claims the incident occurred two years ago doesn't necessarily mean he'll avoid a conviction. You still need a proper defense if you've been accused of a similar crime years after the fact.

The Criminal Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm can provide such a defense when you're facing charges. Learn more about what we can do for you by calling us at 888-535-3686 or submitting our online contact form.

NJ Sex Crimes Involving Minors: When Years Have Passed Since the Alleged Incident

The investigation into Munguia is still ongoing as of this writing. Although the incident in question allegedly occurred two years ago, it could make it somewhat challenging to gather sufficient evidence for a conviction.

There is also no statute of limitations for criminal sexual assault cases in New Jersey. The statute of limitations establishes deadlines by which alleged victims must file lawsuits to pursue civil sexual assault cases in the state. However, there is no such deadline for criminal cases.

Potential Penalties in New Jersey Sexual Assault Cases

Munguia faces various potential consequences if convicted. He may be sentenced to five to 10 years in prison if a jury finds him guilty of second-degree sexual assault. In addition, penalties Munguia may face for endangering the welfare of a child include another five to 10 years in prison and a potential fine of up to $150,000.

Information regarding evidence in this case is currently unavailable. The following are forms of evidence law enforcement and the prosecution might use to build a case against someone after two or more years have passed from the time an alleged incident happened:

• Statements and testimony from the alleged victim
• Witness statements
• Correspondence (such as text messages, emails, etc.)
• Security footage or photos (if available)
• Statements of the alleged perpetrator

Potential defenses in this type of case may include:

• Providing an alibi
• Challenging the validity of the evidence
• Challenging how the evidence was acquired
• Arguing the form of contact between the alleged perpetrator and victim doesn't qualify as sexual assault
• Identifying contradictions or other such accuracy issues in the statements of the alleged victim, witnesses, etc.

The ideal defense in these circumstances will depend on the specifics of the case. What's essential to understand is that it's possible to face a conviction for sexual assault or similar crimes years after their alleged occurrence.

Never assume you don't need to worry about these matters if you've been charged with a sex crime your accuser states happened years ago. Working on your defense strategy is critical now. Get started by contacting the Lento Law Firm Criminal Defense Team through our online form or by calling 888-535-3686.