Butler New Jersey Sexual Assault SuspectA man who convicted on sexual assault charges in Butler NJ is now facing new criminal charges for allegedly trying to corrupt the jury in his trial.

The 48-year-old suspect, who is from Vernon Township, raped a female outside a bagel shop in Butler, New Jersey. The sexual assault occurred while the victim sat in a parked car outside the G&A Bagel shop on Route 23 on January 28, 2007.

During the early morning hours, the suspect opened the car door and pulled the 19-year-old victim out of the vehicle. He then forcefully removed her pants and underwear before molesting her.

The suspect was first convicted of aggravated sexual assault in 2009. However, he later appealed the conviction and was eventually granted a new trial.

At the end of the new trial, a Morris County Superior Court jury found the suspect guilty on all charges. When he returns to court for sentencing in early December, he will be subject to a potential sentence of 20 years in New Jersey State Prison.

According to Morris County prosecutors, the suspect conspired with another individual to tamper with the jury during his re-trial.

Law enforcement learned about the jury tampering allegations with the trial already underway. A subsequent investigation resulted in officials obtaining evidence that the suspect attempted to disseminate to the jury information previously ruled inadmissible by the judge. The sealed documents were allegedly changed prior to being handed out around the Morris County Courthouse.

The other person who allegedly participated in the scheme to sway the jury is a 44-year-old man from Wharton, New Jersey.

Morris County Prosecutor’s Office detectives arrested the suspects and charged them with obstruction of the administration of law and corrupting a jury.

Since obstruction of justice is a third degree crime, the suspects face separate sentences of 3-5 years in state prison.

To learn more about this case, see the DailyRecord.com article entitled “Convicted Butler Rapist Charged with Trying to Influence Jury.”