Press release from Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office
Nathaniel E. Jones (27), of Pine Hill was found guilty on July 9 of sexually assaulting a 14 year-old girl in Washington Township in the summer of 2014.
Superior Court Judge M. Christine Allen-Jackson announced her verdict in a non-jury trial after hearing testimony from the girl and her mother, counselors who interviewed the girl and her grandparents who were defense witnesses.
After announcing the first-degree conviction, Judge Allen-Jackson ordered Jones to submit to an evaluation at the state Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center, a facility for sex offenders in Avenel. If found to be a repetitive and compulsive offender; he may serve his sentence at the Avenel center and undergo treatment.
Jones, who had no prior criminal record, was released pending sentencing and ordered to surrender his passport within 48 hours. He faces up to 25 years in New Jersey state prison.
During the trial last month, the girl said Jones had sexual intercourse with her in her grandparents’ home. She disclosed the encounter two years later while in therapy. Jones also molested her in Pine Hill when she was nine years old, she said. The mother described behavioral changes in the girl including sexual promiscuity, theft and running away from home.
In a closing statement, Assistant Gloucester County Prosecutor Temperance Williamson said that despite defense arguments that the girl lacked credibility; she had no motive to lie because she cherished her relationship with her grandmother and knew her accusations could end that relationship. In fact, that is what happened, the girl and her mother testified.
In her decision, Judge Allen-Jackson said she found the girl’s testimony to be credible, citing the familial loss she faced by testifying.
