<p>Hunterdon County Prosecutor Anthony P. Kearns, III, Chief of Detectives John J. Kuczynski, and Town of Clinton Police Chief Brett Matheis announced that a joint investigation by the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and the Town of Clinton Police Department has led to the arrest of one individual on sexual assault charges.</p>
<p>The investigation revealed that Richard Taracena, age 33, of Clinton, NJ, touched the intimate parts of the victim while the victim was less than 13 years old. Mr. Taracena was arrested and charged with Sexual Assault, a 2nd degree crime, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a 3rd degree crime.</p>
<p>The Honorable Bradford M. Bury, J.S.C. set bail on the defendant at $100,000. The defendant was lodged in the Somerset County Jail and is awaiting his first court appearance. This investigation is ongoing and anyone with additional information is requested to contact the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit at 908-788-1129.</p>
<p>According to Prosecutor Kearns, “Crimes involving children are a serious offense, if found guilty the defendant can be sentenced to five to ten years in prison for the 2nd degree charge.”</p>
<p>The filing of a criminal complaint is merely a step in the criminal justice process. The defendant is presumed innocent until the matter is resolved in a court of law.</p>
<p>Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-321-0010 or by going to www.crimestoppershunterdon.com, or text messaging “HCTIPS” plus your tip message to 274637 (CRIMES). Tipsters can also download the free mobile app “Tipsubmit” and select Hunterdon County to submit anonymous tips via text messaging. All tips are anonymous and kept confidential.</p>
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<p>For press releases visit our website at http://www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/prosecutor/press.htm</p>
