Can Insufficient Scientific Evidence of Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation Syndrome (CSAAS) Overturn Convictions Retroactively?

August 17, 2020 |

State v. G.E.P. Appellate Docket No.: A-4-19 Decided August 5, 2020 Submitted by New Jersey Sex Crime Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. In a recent New Jersey Supreme Court decision, the Court reviewed whether scientific evidence of Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation Syndrome (CSAAS) presented for the conviction of those accused of sex crimes against children which was…

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State v. Libardo

February 19, 2020 |

Submitted by New Jersey Sex Crime Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. This case, State v. Libardo, is an appeal from defendant from convictions of aggravated sexual contact, endangerment, luring, and criminal restraint in 2017. Defendant was sentenced eight-year prison sentence. The Superior Court agreed with the appeal and reversed, stating the trial court erred in admitting both…

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Magnolia Man Charged with Possession of Child Pornography – May 31, 2019

June 21, 2019 |

Submitted by New Jersey Sex Crime Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. Mark Girondi, 46, of Magnolia, was charged with Possession of Child Pornography according to Camden County Prosecutor Mary Eva Colalillo and Magnolia Police Chief Robert Stetser. On May 31, 2019, detectives from the High-Tech Crimes Unit (HTCU) of the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office and Members of Homeland Security…

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In the Matter of the Civil Commitment of R.A. , N.J. Super. App. Div.

May 1, 2019 |

In the Matter of the Civil Commitment of R.A. , N.J. Super. App. Div. (April 25, 2019) Submitted by New Jersey Sex Crime Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. The court’s standard applies when the State seeks to recommit a person who was given a conditional discharge. In re Civil Commitment of E.D., 183 N.J. 536, 551 (2005). In…

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Ex-fire chief in Camden County town charged with sexually assaulting child

March 1, 2019 |

The former fire chief for Barrington in Camden County has been arrested on charge he sexually assaulted a child. Submitted by New Jersey Sex Crime Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. Richard Rettinger, 42, is accused of molesting the child in his Barrington home, according to a statement from the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office. He faces a charge…

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What can a sexual assault nurse say to a jury regarding a rape exam report?

February 28, 2019 |

State v. JSC. New Jersey Appellate Division unreported decision decided February 27, 2019. Submitted by New Jersey Sex Crime Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark In this Camden city, Camden county New Jersey decision the defendant was charged with two different aggravated sexual assaults with his ex girlfriend in his family’s home Who is also residing in the…

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Can Mom’s Statement to Medical doctor in emergency room be admitted as evidence in a criminal trial against third party? Rule of Evidence 804

February 10, 2019 |

Submitted by New Jersey Sex Crime Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. This is a law division evidence decision made by Superior Court judge sitting in Camden County arising out of an out of court hearsay statement made by a sex assault victim’s mother to a E.R. physician at Cooper Hospital in Camden, NJ.  The reasoning behind the admissibility of…

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Right to Remain Silent: Comments made when girlfriend records your statement with the help of police – Comments made in Closing are “FAIR COMMENT”

January 26, 2019 |

State v. Santamaria NJ Supreme Court Decision January 28, 2019 Submitted by New Jersey Sex Crime Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark. Facts: Former middle school teacher Guillermo Santamaria was tried and convicted of aggravated sexual assault and official misconduct for his sexual relationship with a student at his school from the time she was fourteen. In this appeal we…

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