A man and woman from South Jersey have been arrested in connection with the repeated sexual assaults of a girl, who told authorities the abuse started when she was just 13 years old.
Michael Brown has been charged with third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, second-degree sexual assault of a minor between 13 and 16, and fourth-degree criminal sexual contact of a minor, according to a statement released by the Mantua Police Department on Thursday night. Valerie Brown, meanwhile, is facing third-degree endangering the welfare of a child and tampering with evidence.
They were both arrested on Wednesday.
Officers in Mantua, working alongside the West Deptford and the Woodbury police departments, launched an investigation into the matter on Sunday, after the victim came forward with her allegations. She told investigators “that she had been sexually assaulted beginning at approximately 13 years of age,” according to the police statement. She additionally “reported the assaults occurred between 2018 and 2020, while she was a minor.”
Authorities did not specify the relationship between the Browns, nor what role 44-year-old Valerie played in the assaults. It is also unclear, what, if any relationship the victim — who was not identified — had with the suspects.
An investigation into the matter is ongoing. Police have requested that any other potential victims as well as those who may have information in the case to come forward.
