Freehold man pleads guilty to sexual assault of a 12-year old

A Freehold Borough man is facing 15-years in prison after pleading guilty to the sexual assault of a 12-year old girl, Monmouth County Prosecutor Chris Gramiccioni announced on Thursday.

Get our free mobile app

When Elias Juarez Hernandez, 45, pleaded guilty to one count of first degree aggravated sexual assault he admitted to having sexual intercourse at his home in Freehold Borough with the girl on August 10, 2020.

The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and Freehold Borough Police learned through investigating the incident that Juarez-Hernandez approached the 12-year-old girl, who had run away from her residence in Marlboro, outside the 7-Eleven store in Freehold Borough that morning and offered her a ride.

He allegedly told the girl that his vehicle was at his residence in Freehold Borough and both of them then walked back there.

Once at the home though, Juarez-Hernandez pushed the girl into the basement and then sexually assaulted her multiple times throughout the night.

Following his guilty plea in court, Juarez-Hernandez is scheduled to be sentenced on August 20, 2021.

Prosecutor Gramiccioni said that under the terms of a plea agreement reached after consultation with the victim’s family, Juarez-Hernandez faces up to 15 years in a New Jersey state prison without the possibility of parole, pursuant to the Jessica Lunsford Act.

He will be subject to the requirements of Megan’s Law registration and Parole Supervision for Life upon release from prison.

The case was prosecuted by Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Danielle Zanzuccki.

Juarez-Hernandez is represented by Steven Nelson, Esq., of Neptune.

You can follow Vin Ebenau on Twitter and Instagram and email news tips to vin.ebenau@townsquaremedia.com.