LYNDHURST, NJ – Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of FERNANDO VALLADARES (DOB: 4/20/1964; married; music instructor) of 77 Belgrove Drive, Kearny, New Jersey on charges of sexual assault by sexual contact and endangering the welfare of a child. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Jason Love and the Lyndhurst Police Department under the direction of Chief Richard Jarvis.
On Thursday, June 17, 2021, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office received information from the Lyndhurst Police Department that FERNANDO VALADARES engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with a child under the age of thirteen while in Lyndhurst, New Jersey. The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victim’s Unit and the Lyndhurst Police Department initiated an investigation. During the investigation, it was learned that VALADARES engaged in the conduct on multiple occasions while instructing the child in music lessons.
As a result of the investigation, on June 22, 2021, FERNANDO VALLADARES was arrested and charged by the Lyndhurst Police Department with one count of second-degree Sexual assault by sexual contact, N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2b; and one count of third-degree Endangering the welfare of a child, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4a(1). VALLADARES was transported to the Bergen County Jail pending his first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court.
Prosecutor Musella states that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. He would like to thank the Lyndhurst Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.