Mantua man pleads guilty to aggravated sexual assault of minor, faces 10-year prison term
judge with gavel, stock photo.

Mantua Man Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Sexual Assault of Minor, Faces 10-Year Prison Term

Posted by
1 min read
June 20, 2026

A Mantua Township man admitted in court to sexually assaulting a minor and is expected to receive a 10-year state prison sentence under a plea agreement, prosecutors said.

Michael Brown, 46, of Mantua Township, pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of first-degree aggravated sexual assault of a minor before Superior Court Judge Michael Silvanio, Gloucester County Prosecutor Andrew B. Johns announced.

According to prosecutors, Brown admitted during court proceedings to sexually assaulting a minor over a period of time while she was under his supervision and care.

Plea agreement calls for decade in prison

Under the plea agreement, Brown is expected to be sentenced to 10 years in New Jersey State Prison.

Prosecutors said he must serve 85 percent of the sentence before becoming eligible for parole under New Jersey law.

Upon release, Brown will be subject to lifetime parole supervision, must register under Megan’s Law, and will be prohibited from participating in youth sports activities.

Related case remains pending

Authorities said the victim was associated with the Harrison Sparks cheerleading organization.

Charges against Brown’s wife, Valerie Brown, remain pending. She has been charged with third-degree endangering the welfare of a child and criminal sexual contact. Those charges have not been resolved in court.

Investigation conducted by local authorities

The case was prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Kylie Finley.

Prosecutor Johns credited the Mantua Township Police Department and the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crimes Unit for their work on the investigation.

As with all criminal matters, charges against any defendant whose case remains pending are merely accusations unless proven in court.


Key Points

• Michael Brown, 46, pleaded guilty to first-degree aggravated sexual assault of a minor.

• Prosecutors said he faces a 10-year prison sentence under a plea agreement.

• Brown will be required to register under Megan’s Law and will be subject to lifetime parole supervision upon release.


Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Don't Miss

Exit mobile version