PASSAIC, NJ – It’s not often that an alleged criminal in New Jersey is held in jail until his trial these days, but a 20-year-old from Passaic who repeatedly raped two young 14-year-old girls will not be getting out of jail any time soon.
Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes announces the pretrial detention of Jorge Mendez, 20 years old, from Passaic, New Jersey. Mr. Mendez was arrested without incident on August 11, 2021, after an investigation conducted by the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office.
Mr. Mendez is charged with first degree aggravated sexual assault, second degree sexual assault, and third degree endangering the welfare of a child. Mr. Mendez has previously been indicted on two separate cases charging second degree sexual assault, fourth degree criminal sexual contact, and third degree endangering the welfare of a child. On May 13, 2021, the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P) received a report that a twelve-year-old victim disclosed that the victim had been sexually assaulted by Mr. Mendez approximately one year prior.
The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office conducted an investigation and interviewed the victim and witnesses, which culminated in Mr. Mendez’s arrest. Mr. Mendez was previously investigated and arrested by the Passaic Police Department on allegations that he repeatedly committed sexual assaults against two fourteen-year-old victims over the course of several months.
The sentencing exposure on first degree aggravated sexual assault where the victim is under the age of thirteen is twenty-five years to life in New Jersey State Prison, subject to a twenty-five-year parole disqualifier pursuant to the Jessica Lunsford Act; on second-degree sexual assault is five to ten years with 85% of the term to be served before parole eligibility pursuant to the No Early Release Act; and on third-degree endangering the welfare of a child is three to five years in New Jersey State Prison.
If convicted, Mr. Mendez will also be subject to Parole Supervision for Life and Megan’s Law registration requirements. At a detention hearing on Tuesday, August 17, 2021, the Honorable Joseph A. Portelli, J.S.C. granted the State’s motion for the pretrial detention of Mr. Mendez.