An Emerson NJ man has been accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old NYC girl who had been reported missing.

Paterson NJ police officers met with 23-year-old Gus Galianos and the girl while investigating a different matter. The girl told the officers that she had engaged in sexual activity with Mr. Galianos at his home in Emerson, New Jersey. This prompted the officers to take the girl to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Paterson, NJ, where she confirmed the story to members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office’s Special Victims Unit.

The girl’s father had reported the girl missing earlier in the week when she did not return home from school. Prosecutors believe that Mr. Galianos met the girl in New York and drove her to New Jersey.

After being arrested, Mr. Galianos was charged with sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child.

In New Jersey, sexual assault is codified in N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2b. The statute classifies sexual assault as a second degree criminal offense. In this case, Mr. Galianos could be sentenced to up to 10 years in NJ State Prison if he is convicted.

To learn about this case, read the NJ.com article entitled “Emerson Man Sexually Assaulted Missing 13-Year-Old Girl, Prosecutor Says.“