Hackensack Man’s Appeal Rejected in Teen Sex Assault

A New Jersey man convicted of kidnapping and having sex with two underage girls has lost his bid for a new trial.

The Record reports that Ivan McKinney claimed prosecutors did not present sufficient evidence during his trial earlier this year. The 40-year-old Hackensack man also argued that some of the jurors were sleeping during the trial.

But state Superior Court Judge James Guida rejected his arguments on Wednesday, saying a jury verdict can only be set aside if there is a "manifest denial of justice."

McKinney now faces a life term when he's sentenced July 19.

Bergen County prosecutors say McKinney befriended two Clifton girls, ages 13 and 15, at a Passaic business in February 2011. They say he took the girls to his apartment on two occasions and gave them drugs and alcohol until they passed out.

During the second encounter, McKinney had sex with the girls.

He was convicted at trial on multiple counts including kidnapping, aggravated sexual assault, child endangerment and drug charges. He was on lifetime parole at the time, having been previously convicted of sexual assault and child abuse.

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