Paterson Man Found Guilty Of Sexual Assault Of A Child & A Young Woman

Thursday, February 27, 2025, 4:00 P.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

PATERSON, NJ.- Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes reported that on Monday, February 24, 2025, a 74-year-old Paterson, New Jersey, man was found guilty on charges in connection with the sexual assault of a young child and the sexual assault of a young woman that occurred between 2004 and 2008 in Haledon, New Jersey.

     On Monday, following a trial in Passaic County Superior Court before Superior Court Judge Marybel Mercado-Ramirez, the jury found Muniru Owe, 74, of Paterson, guilty of one count of second-degree Sexual Assault; one count of third-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child; and one count of second-degree Attempted Sexual Assault. 

     Following the jury returning their findings of guilt, Judge Mercado-Ramirez accepted the verdict and scheduled sentencing for June 27, 2025. At that time, Owe faces up to ten years in New Jersey State Prison on each of the sexual assault offenses and up to five years on the child endangerment offense. 

     Owe will also be subject to parole supervision for life and will be required to register as a sex offender under Megan’s Law registration requirements. Judge Mercado-Ramirez remanded Owe to the custody of the Bergen County Jail pending sentencing.

Investigation Uncovers Past Sexual Assaults

     The conviction stems from an investigation that began on January 7, 2020, when the Haledon Police Department received a report from a report from a 20-year-old woman who reported to Police that she had been sexually assaulted by Owe when she was between five and six years old, between 2004 and 2006. Subsequently, during the investigation, a second woman came forward to report that she also had been sexually assaulted by Owe between 2006 and 2008 when she was around 19 years to 22 years old. Both sexual assaults occurred at a residence in Haledon, New Jersey.