Man Faces Burglary, Sexual Assault Charges in Both Aberdeen and Matawan

A Matawan man was charged in both Matawan and Aberdeen for allegedly breaking into two separate homes and sexually assaulting or attempting to sexually assault the female residents.

Detectives from the Matawan Police Department, Aberdeen Police Department, and the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office arrested Derrick J. Federick, 32, of Matawan at his apartment on Sept. 28 at about 5 p.m. without incident, according to Matawan Lt. Ben Smith.

Investigators say Federick is responsible for breaking into a second floor apartment in Aberdeen at about 4:45 a.m. on May 29, 2012 and attempting to assault a female resident, who was home alone at the time of the burglary.

A confrontation between the female victim and the intruder resulted in the woman stabbing him with a steak knife, causing him to flee the apartment and jump from the second floor balcony, Aberdeen Chief of Police John Powers told Patch in May.  

Investigators also believe that Federick is responsible for breaking into a Matawan residence on Aug. 18, 2012, and sexually assaulting a female resident while she slept, according to Lt. Smith.

Detectives from both Aberdeen and Matawan linked Federick to the incidents through DNA evidence which was collected at each crime scene and tested at the New Jersey State Police Laboratory.

Aberdeen Det. Sgt. Hank Chevalier charged Federick with burglary and criminal attempt of a sexual assault. Bail was set at $250,000.

Matawan Det. Joseph Lovallo and Det. Steven Sakowski charged Federick with aggravated sexual assault, criminal restraint and burglary. Bail was set at $750,000.

Federick was transported to the Monmouth County Correctional Facility in lieu of a total of $1 million in bail with no 10% option.