the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Clifton NJ, according to the Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Clifton Police Chief Mark Centurione announce that Juan Mejia, 44, currently of Paterson, New Jersey, was arrested on February 19, 2020 at a Barns and Noble bookstore in Clifton, NJ for secretly videotaping two separate women who were utilizing the bathroom stalls.
Defendant was charged with two counts of Invasion of Privacy, Third Degree. Upon further investigation, Juan Mejia was found to be in possession of video images of suspected child pornography. Defendant was charged with Endangering the Welfare of Children, Second Degree, and Endangering the Welfare of Children, Third Degree, for manufacturing and possessing images of suspected child pornography. Endangering the Welfare of Children, second degree, carries a maximum term of ten years in New Jersey State Prison, Endangering the Welfare of a Child, third degree, carries a maximum term of five years in New Jersey State Prison, and each count of Invasion of Privacy, third degree, carries a maximum term of five years in prison. The State has filed a motion for the pretrial detention of Mr. Mejia, which is scheduled to be heard on Wednesday, February 26, 2020 at 9 am before the Honorable Donna Gallucio, a Judge of the Superior Court.
The defendant is being held at the Passaic County Jail pending the pretrial detention hearing. A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office asks anyone with additional information about this incident to contact us on our tips line at 1-877-370-PCPO or tips@passaiccountynj.org or contact the Clifton Police Department at 973-470- 5900.