A New York woman faces charges of witness tampering after allegedly trying to coerce a sex crime victim to change her official statement in a Fairview NJ sexual assault case.

According to authorities, the suspect made contact with an individual who had alleged that she got raped by someone else.

The defendant in the sex crime case has been accused of raping the victim in Fairview, New Jersey. The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office filed criminal charges against the alleged rapist, largely on the basis of a statement made by the victim. The identity of the rape suspect was not released by Bergen County prosecutors.

While investigators continued to gather evidence and prosecutors sought an indictment, the NY woman allegedly approached the victim and tried to pressure her into recanting her allegations.

The suspect, a 32-year-old woman from the Bronx, NY, was placed under arrest and charged with witness tampering. The NJ criminal justice system depends on witnesses being able to speak freely and honestly, so it is a very serious offense for someone to attempt to interfere with or obstruct a witness in a criminal case. If the suspect accused of committing witness tampering is ultimately convicted, she could face severe penalties.

After being arrested and processed, the suspect was remanded to the Bergen County Correctional Facility in Hackensack, New Jersey. She was being held at the jail in lieu of $5,000 bail.

For further information about this case, view the NJ.com article, “Woman Accused of Coercing Sex-Crime Victim to Recant, Cops Say.”