Officials from the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office in New Brunswick have accused a local case worker of numerous sex crimes, including endangering the welfare of a child, for acts he allegedly committed with a child under his supervision.
23 year-old Miguel Garrido, a resident of the Monmouth Junction section of South Brunswick, was arrested on Friday, November 17th. He is facing a host of serious charges for the alleged sexual assault of a minor under the age of 16. Garrido was employed as a case worker for Coordinated Family Care, a private non-profit organization serving children and families in Middlesex County.
After a coordinated investigation by detectives from the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office and Highland Park Police Department, it was determined that Garrido had sex with a child under the age of 16 at the victim’s home while serving as their case worker. Investigators say he also used marijuana with the child.
While the investigation is ongoing, Garrido has already been charged with one count of first degree aggravated sexual assault, one count second degree sexual assault, one count of third degree aggravated criminal sexual contact, one count of fourth degree criminal sexual contact, and two counts of third degree endangering the welfare of a child.
Notably, the two counts of endangering the welfare of a child are for different alleged offenses. One count of child endangerment was filed in connection with the sexual assault, while the other was for allegedly using marijuana with the victim. This illustrates the breadth of criminal offenses subsumed under New Jersey’s Endangering the Welfare of a Child Statute, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4.
Specifically, the law on child endangerment encompasses (1) sexual conduct which would impair or debauch the morals of the child; and (2) conduct which causes the child harm that would make the child an abused or neglected child. It also addresses crimes associated with child pornography, including possession, dissemination, and allowing a child to engage in a prohibited sexual act or in the simulation of such an act that may be recorded or reproduced in any manner.
In some cases involving child endangerment, a person found guilty will face mandatory sex offender registration in addition to a prison sentence. Megan’s law requires individuals convicted of certain sex crimes in New Jersey to provide personal identifying information to the State which may then be made available to the public. Some convicted sex offenders are also subject to community supervision for life.
New Brunswick NJ Endangering the Welfare of a Child Attorneys
Endangering the welfare of a child is a serious allegation that must be fought aggressively. If you or a loved one is accused of child endangerment in New Brunswick or elsewhere in Middlesex County, New Jersey, contact our criminal defense attorneys to discuss your specific case and learn more about ways to defend against these charges. Our lawyers focus solely on criminal defense, including endangering charges, and we are fully prepared to defend you. Not sure about hiring a lawyer? Simply call (732) 659-9600 for a free consultation and find the answers you need to protect yourself.
For additional information regarding this case, access the following article: NJ case worker sexually assaulted child he oversaw: Prosecutors
