PASSAIC, NJ – Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes announces the arrest of Manuel Figueroa, 23 years old, from Passaic, New Jersey. Mr. Figueroa was arrested on September 1, 2021 after an investigation conducted by the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit.
Mr. Figueroa is charged with one count of first degree Aggravated Sexual Assault, one count of second degree Sexual Assault, and one count of second degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child. On August 16, 2021 the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office received information from the mother of an eight-year-old child that the child was sexually abused by Mr. Figueroa.
Thereafter, Prosecutor’s Office Detectives interviewed the eight-year-old victim and multiple witnesses. The victim reported being sexually abused by Mr. Figueroa on one occasion at a residence in Passaic between March and May of 2021. 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 it is five to ten years in New Jersey State Prison with 85% of the term to be served before parole eligibility pursuant to the No Early Release Act; and on second degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child it is five to ten years in New Jersey State Prison.
If convicted, Mr. Figueroa is subject to Parole Supervision for Life and Megan’s Law registration requirements. Mr. Figueroa is presently detained at the Passaic County Jail. The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office has filed a motion for the pretrial detention which will be heard before a Superior Court Judge.