Ride-share driver sexually assaulted juvenile passenger, cops say

PROSPECT PARK — A ride share driver has been charged by the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office with sexually assaulting a juvenile passenger.

Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes said Julio Mejia, 39, of Wharton, assaulted the girl between Aug. 18, 2019 and Sept. 24, 2019. The prosecutor did not reveal the name of service Mejia drove for.

It said he encountered the juvenile as a passenger, but didn't say if the alleged assaults happened while he was on the job.

Mejia was charged with two counts of second-degree sexual assault, one count of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child and two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact.

A detention hearing for Mejia is scheduled for Tuesday.

Mejia was an active member of the armed services at the time of his arrest, the prosecutor said. She didn't say what branch he served in.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNJ