Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes announces the arrest of Valerio Almonte-Espinal, 39
years old, from Paterson, New Jersey. Mr. Almonte-Espinal was arrested on August 28, 2021 after
an investigation conducted by the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit.
Mr. Almonte-Espinal is charged with one count of second degree Sexual Assault and one count of
second degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
On August 27, 2021 the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office received information from the Division
of Child Protection and Permanency regarding a twelve-year-old child who disclosed acts of sexual
assault by Mr. Almonte-Espinal. Special Victims Unit detectives interviewed the victim and
multiple witnesses. The investigation revealed that Mr. Almonte-Espinal sexually assaulted the
child at a residence in the City of Paterson in May of 2021 when the child was eleven years old.
The sentencing exposure on second degree Sexual Assault is five to ten years in New Jersey State
Prison with 85% of the sentence to be served before parole pursuant to the New Early Release Act
and on Endangering the Welfare of a Child it is five to ten years in New Jersey State Prison. If
convicted, Mr. Almonte-Espinal is subject to Parole Supervision for Life and Megan’s Law
registration requirements.
Mr. Almonte-Espinal is currently detained in the Passaic County Jail. The Passaic County
Prosecutor’s Office has filed a Motion for Pretrial Detention which will be heard by a Superior Court
judge this week.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, defendants are presumed
innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office asks anyone with additional information about this incident
or other incidents regarding this individual to contact us on our tips line at 1-877-370-PCPO.