A Kearny fugitive from justice accused of sexually assaulting a then 14-year-old girl more than a year ago, also in Kearny, has been arrested by federal authorities in Puerto Rico on numerous sex crime charges, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said.
On Wednesday, March 22, 2023, Jose Alfredo Garcia, 31, of Kearny, was arrested at approximately 7:50 p.m. in San German, Puerto Rico, by members of the United States Marshals Service-District of Puerto Rico Violent Fugitive Task Force, in conjunction with the United States Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force.
Garcia was sought for reportedly sexually assaulting the 14-year-old victim Dec. 20, 2021.
Following an investigation, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit charged Garcia with sexual assault, a second-degree crime; a separate sexual assault violation, luring/enticing a child, endangering the welfare of a child and criminal sexual contact.
Garcia is being detained at the Metropolitan Jail No. 705 in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, as a fugitive from justice, pending extradition to Jersey.
Suarez credited the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit, the Kearny Police Department, the United States Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force, the United States Marshals Service of Puerto Rico Violent Fugitive Task Force and the Puerto Rico Police Department with the investigation and arrest.
Anyone wishing to report a sex crime should call the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit (SVU) at (201) 915-1234. All information will be kept confidential.
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Kevin A. Canessa Jr. is the editor of and broadcaster at The Observer, an organization he has served since 2006. He is responsible for the editorial content of the newspaper and website, the production of the e-Newspaper, writing several stories per week (including the weekly editorial), conducting live broadcasts on social media channels such as YouTube, Facebook, and X, including a weekly recap of the news — and much more behind the scenes. Between 2006 and 2008, he introduced the newspaper to its first-ever blog — which included podcasts, audio and video. Originally from Jersey City, Kevin lived in Kearny until 2004, lived in Port St. Lucie. Florida, for four years until February 2016 and in March of that year, he moved back to Kearny to return to The Observer full time. Click Here to send Kevin an email.