UNION CITY MAN CHARGED IN MULTIPLE SEXUAL CRIMES AGAINST FEMALE JUVENILES

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:

On Friday, December 4, 2020, at approximately 5:10 p.m., members of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit arrested Carlos Menjivar, age 78, of Union City, on charges involving multiple sexual crimes against three female juvenile victims. He was arrested at the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office in Jersey City without incident.

On October 26, 2020, members of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit were notified by the Union City Police Department about the alleged crimes. Menjivar was arrested following an investigation by the Prosecutor’s Office SVU and the Union City Police Department.

Menjivar has been charged with Aggravated Sexual Assault in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2a(1), a first-degree crime and Sexual Assault by Contact in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2b, a second-degree crime. Both of these charges involve incidents that allegedly occurred from 2006 to 2008. The victim was nine to eleven years old when they occurred.

An additional charge has been filed involving a second victim who was nine-years-old when the crimes occurred. Menjivar has been charged with Aggravated Sexual Assault in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2a(1), a first-degree crime. This charge involves multiple allegations that reportedly occurred from 2002 to 2003.

Additional charges have also been filed involving a third victim who was between seven and twelve years old when the crimes occurred. Menjivar has been charged with Sexual Assault by Contact in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2b, a second-degree crime, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4a(1), a second-degree crime. These charges involve multiple incidents that allegedly occurred between 2012 and 2017.
After his arrest, Menjivar was transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility in Kearny pending his first appearance.

The Prosecutor’s Office has filed a motion for pretrial detention of the defendant. A hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, December 9, 2020.

This is an ongoing investigation and the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office SVU is actively investigating this case. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Prosecutor’s Office at 201-915-1234 or leave an anonymous tip on the Hudson County Prosecutor’s official website at: http://www.hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org/tips/. All information will be kept confidential.

Prosecutor Suarez credited the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and the Union City Police Department with the investigation and arrest.

The above charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6).