Sex assault suspect now facing witness tampering charges

NORTH BERGEN, NJ – Members of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit arrested Michael Vivar, 23, of North Bergen, on charges involving the sexual assault and robbery of a 33-year-old woman in North Bergen. He surrendered himself to detectives with the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday, January 12, 2022 at approximately 4:55 p.m.

On Wednesday, November 3, 2021, the North Bergen Police Department reported a 33-year-old woman was sexually assaulted by an unknown man she had met earlier in the day. An investigation by the Special Victims Unit revealed Vivar sexually assaulted the woman and stole money from her wallet. Vivar then instructed a witness to provide a false report to detectives who were investigating the case.

Vivar is charged with two counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault, in violation of 2C:14-2a(7) and 2C:14-2a(3), Robbery, in violation of 2C:15-1a(3), and Witness Tampering, in violation of 2C:28-5a(1). He was processed and remanded to the Hudson County Correctional Facility pending his first court appearance. The State has filed a motion for detention.

Prosecutor Suarez credited the Special Victims Unit, the North Bergen Police Department, and the Guttenberg Police Department with the investigation.