A Lodi New Jersey man was sentenced to 5 years in NJ State Prison for sexually assaulting a young girl.

The 41-year-old suspect was charged with aggravated sexual assault nearly a decade ago. He had been accused of sexually assaulting the 12-year-old victim on at least five occasions.

The suspect pleaded guilty to the aggravated sexual assault charge in 2007 and agreed to serve a term of incarceration of 5 years. However, prior to being officially sentenced, the suspect fled to Jamaica.

The suspect appeared on the Bergen County “Most Wanted” fugitive list while authorities tried to track him down. Law enforcement eventually located him in Jamaica. U.S. Marshals later extradited the suspect back to the United States.

The suspect recently appeared in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack NJ for a sentencing hearing. The suspect’s defense attorney told the superior court judge that his client regretted committing the sexual assault and wanted to turn himself in.

Prior to sentencing, the victim wrote a letter to the court and pleaded for the judge to impose a lenient sentence. She then spoke briefly during sentencing and again asked the judge to be lenient.

However, the judge still handed down a sentence of 5 years in New Jersey State Prison, which represented the maximum possible sentence under the terms of the original plea agreement. The suspect will have to serve at least 4 years before he becomes eligible for parole. Additionally, he will be required to register as a sex offender under Megan’s Law.

For more information about this case, check out the NorthJersey.com article entitled “Longtime Bergen County Most Wanted Fugitive Gets 5 Years in Sexual Assault of Child.”