74-Year-Old Paramus Man Has Been Charged With 21 Counts Of Sex Crimes For Past Sexual Assaults Of Teen

Friday, July 12, 2024, 2:30 P.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

PARAMUS, NJ.- Yesterday, following an investigation by the Bergen County Special Victims Unit, a 74-year-old Paramus, New Jersey man who is a church pastor in a Bergen County Church and lives in Paramus was taken into custody and charged in connection with an alleged pattern of sexual assaults of a teen that occurred in the past.

     According to Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella, on Thursday, July 11, 2024, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit was contacted regarding the alleged sexual assaults of a child that had occurred in the past.

     A swift-moving investigation by Detectives of the Bergen County Special Victims Unit quickly determined that Stephen E. Sweet, 74, of Paramus, New Jersey, committed numerous acts of sexual contact and sexual assault on multiple occasions over several years when the child was between 13 and 18 years of age at locations in River Edge, Paramus, and Ridgewood.

     Accordingly, on Thursday, Sweet was taken into custody and formally charged with two counts of first-degree Aggravated Sexual Assault; ten counts of second-degree Sexual Assault; three counts of second-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child; three counts of third-degree Aggravated Criminal Sexual Contact; and three counts of fourth-degree Criminal Sexual Contact.

     Sweet was taken into custody in Paramus, New Jersey, and following being processed on the charges, Sweet was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending future court proceedings in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack, New Jersey.

“The rules Of The Court require us to include a statement, that states: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations and the defendant and or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.”