Crime & Safety

Plainfield Man Convicted for Sexual Assault Involving Local Child

His May 2011 arrest stemmed from a report made by a Matawan-Aberdeen student.

A Plainfield man was convicted Wednesday on one count of third degree endangering the welfare of a child, and one count of fourth degree criminal sexual contact, according to Acting Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni.

Jerrish L. Halsey, 40, of Plainfield, was found guilty of all counts following a week long jury trial before the Honorable Francis Vernoia, J.S.C., according to a press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.

The charges in this case stem from an investigation by the Aberdeen Police Department conducted in May of 2011 after school officials reported a disclosure by one of their students. The ensuing investigation, conducted in cooperation with the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, revealed that the minor child had been sexually abused by the defendant on five separate occasions in 2011.

Find out what's happening in Matawan-Aberdeenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

As a result of the investigation, Halsey was arrested on May 6, 2011, andlodged in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution on cash only bail in the amount of$452,500, set by the Honorable Thomas F. Scully, P.J.Cr.

Halsey is scheduled to be sentenced on March 1, 2013. At that time he faces a maximum term of 20 years in prison. Halsey is subject to an extended term of imprisonment because at the time of the commission of this offense he was under a special sentence of Community Supervision for Life due to a prior conviction for second degree sexual assault, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.

Find out what's happening in Matawan-Aberdeenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Halsey pleaded guilty to second degree sexual assault on May 24, 2000 from charges arising in Union County and was sentenced on January 19, 2001. Additionally, any sentence Halsey receives on one of the sexual assault convictions will be subject to the No Early Release Act ("N.E.R.A."); which means he will have to serve 85% of any sentence imposed on that count before he is eligible for release.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Fichter. Halsey was represented by Andrew Ingram, Esq., of Scotch Plains, New Jersey.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.