On Thursday, July 9, 2026, members of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit arrested two males following a sexual assault investigation in Jersey City.
Desmar Rivers, 27, and Jaquan Robinson, 19, both of Jersey City, are charged with Sexual Assault in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2c(4), a crime of the second degree; Endangering the Welfare of a Child in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4a(1), a crime of the third degree; Possession of a Prohibited Device (hollow point bullets) in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-3f(1), a crime of the fourth degree; Possession of a Prohibited Device (large capacity magazine) in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-3j, a crime of the fourth degree; and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (firearm) in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1), a crime of the second degree. Rivers is additionally charged with Certain Persons not to Possess a Weapon in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-7b(1), a crime of the second degree. They are being held at the Hudson County Correctional Facility pending their first court appearance.
On Sunday, July 5, 2026, the Special Victims Unit was notified by Jersey City Medical Center about a sexual assault involving three female juveniles. The juveniles reported meeting a male on the social media platform Instagram. The male arranged transportation for the juveniles to an apartment on Bergen Avenue where the sex crimes occurred on Friday, July 3, 2026. During a court-authorized search of the apartment, a handgun, hollow point bullets, and a large capacity magazine were recovered.
Prosecutor Mello credited the Special Victims Unit and the Hudson County Regional S.W.A.T. Team with the arrest. Anyone wishing to report a sex crime should call the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office Special Victims Unit (SVU) at 201-915-1234. The above charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6)