HACKENSACK—Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of Sylvester R. Jackson, 65, of Westwood on charges of endangering the welfare of a child and aggravated criminal sexual contact. The arrest followed an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under Chief Matthew Finck and the Westwood Police Department under Chief Michael Pontillo.
On Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2024, the Westwood Police Department contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit regarding the alleged sexual assault of a juvenile under the age of 16 that had occurred in Westwood. An investigation revealed that Sylvester R. Jackson sexually assaulted a juvenile in the borough on Sept. 28, 2024.
As a result, on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024, Jackson was arrested and charged with one count of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4a(1), and one count of third-degree aggravated criminal sexual contact, N.J.S.A. 2C:14-3a. He was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending his first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack.
Musella stated that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. He thanked the Westwood Police Department for their assistance in the investigation.