CHURCH YOUTH LEADER FROM KEARNY CHARGED WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:

On June 15, 2020, members of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit arrested Esteban Ruiz, age 21, of Kearny, on charges that he sexually assaulted a 16-year-old female in April 2018. Ruiz met the victim in his capacity as a youth leader at the Good Shepherd Church in Kearny.

Ruiz has been charged with Sexual Assault in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2c(1), a second-degree crime, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4a(1), a third-degree crime.

Ruiz was arrested at his home in Kearny at approximately 7:00 p.m. without incident. At the time of his arrest, Ruiz listed the Centro de Adoracion in Hackensack as his current employer.

Prosecutor Suarez credited the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and the Kearny Police Department for the investigation and arrest.

The Prosecutor’s Office filed a detention motion and the detention hearing will be held on Friday, June 19, 2020.

Anyone wishing to report a sex crime should call the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit (SVU) at 201-915-1234. The above charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6).