A North Bergen man, 46, has been charged with sexually assaulting an 18-year-old Jersey City woman at a local hotel, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez announced.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
On Wednesday at approximately 6:00 a.m., members of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit arrested Christopher Graham, 46, of North Bergen, on charges involving the sexual assault of an 18-year-old victim from Jersey City at the Days Inn, located at 2600 Tonnelle Ave. in North Bergen, Suarez said in a statement.
On August 15th, members of the SVU were notified by the North Bergen Police Department
of an alleged sexual assault that occurred at the Days Hotel after the victim met the man in Jersey City where he offered to help the victim by giving her a ride home.
Graham, who used a wheelchair was subsequently identified and arrested following an investigation by the SVU.
As a result, he has been charged with one count of first-degree aggravated sexual assault and one count of third-degree aggravated criminal sexual contact. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be filed.
Following his arrest, Graham was transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility in
Kearny pending his first appearance. The prosecutor’s office has filed a motion for pretrial
detention of the defendant and a hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, August 24th.
Suarez credited the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit with the
investigation and arrest, the North Bergen Police Department with assisting in the investigation and the Hudson County Regional SWAT Unit with assisting in the arrest.
Anyone wishing to report a sex crime should call the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit at 201-915-1234.
This afternoon, Suarez said that Graham is facing drug charges unrelated to the alleged sexual assault.
Yesterday at approximately 6:20 p.m., members of the HCPO arrested Graham on multiple drug charges. Graham was arrested at the Hudson County Correctional Facility in Kearny
where he is being held on the aforementioned sexual assault charges.
During the sexual assault investigation, a search warrant for the defendant’s residence was
executed.
During the execution of the warrant, detectives recovered various items related to the possession and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance including cocaine, PCP, drug paraphernalia and more than $3,000 in cash
Graham has been charged with possession with the Intent to Distribute PCP, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with the intent to distribute drug paraphernalia, possession with intent to distribute PCP within 1,000 feet of a school, possession with intent to distribute cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school, possession of PCP, and possession of cocaine.
The Prosecutor’s Office has filed a motion for pretrial detention of the defendant. A hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, August 24th.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with new information.
