Man abuses two boys in North Plainfield church bathroom: PD

NORTH PLAINFIELD, NJ — A man has been charged with sexually abusing two young boys in a church bathroom in North Plainfield, Somerset County District Attorney John P. McDonald announced.

Pierre Joseph, 68, of Plainfield, was charged with two counts of second-degree sexual assault and two counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child.

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On June 23 at approximately 4:38 p.m., North Plainfield Police responded to a 911 call reporting a possible sexual assault of a minor at a local church that had occurred earlier that day.

Officers were told that the suspect, identified as Joseph, was being held at the church until they arrived. Officers then took Joseph to the North Plainfield Police Station for questioning.

The Somerset County District Attorney’s Office Special Victims Unit has been notified of a report of possible sexual abuse of a minor.

The seven-year-old male victim was interviewed at the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Child Advocacy Center by a detective from the Somerset County Special Victim’s Unit.

The victim said a church member followed him into the bathroom, pulled down his pants and underwear and touched him, McDonald said.

The seven-year-old reported this to another person, who reported it to the pastor of the church.

During this investigation, it was discovered that a 9-year-old male victim had a similar
Incident with Joseph in January or February, McDonald said.

On June 23, the 9-year-old boy was interviewed and said that he had been touched on his genitals in the church bathroom.

As a result of this investigation, Joseph was arrested by the North Plainfield Police Department on June 23.

Joseph was lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing in the matter.

McDonald thanked the Essex County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance in this investigation.

Anyone with information about the sexual assault is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit at 908-231-7100 or the North Plainfield Police Department at 908-769-2900 or through the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to submit anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded for free to your smartphone from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ.

Information may also be provided to the Somerset County Crime Stoppers tip line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports and Crime Stoppers tips are kept confidential.

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