NJ Sex Assault Conviction Tossed Over Law Wording
A New Jersey man's aggravated sexual assault conviction has been thrown out because of how the law is worded.
Monday's state Supreme Court ruling means a Morris County man serving more than 20 years in prison will be resentenced on lesser charges.
Eric Rangel was convicted of the first-degree crime and other offenses stemming from a 2007 attack in Lake Hiawatha. He appealed and argued the law requires that sexual penetration occur during an aggravated assault "on another."
Rangel claimed those last two words refer to another person and not the sexual assault victim.
The Supreme Court agreed, writing Monday that "the phrase 'on another' refers to someone other than the victim."
Rangel will be resentenced on charges of sexual assault, aggravated assault and obstruction.
(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved)
More From New Jersey 101.5 FM
