A 21-year-old Manhattan man is facing felony charges after Denville police say he inappropriately grabbed a juvenile girl on Broadway and then tried to flee the scene in an Uber. Ronald Hidary was located and arrested by responding officers shortly after the alleged incident on the township's main commercial strip last Friday afternoon.
According to Morris Focus, Denville police received a report of an incident involving a juvenile female at approximately 4:20 p.m. Friday. Officers responded, identified the suspect as Hidary, and took him into custody before transporting him to Denville police headquarters. As reported by Daily Voice, police say Hidary attempted to leave the area in an Uber before he was caught, and officers later located him on Broadway.
Hidary was charged with third-degree endangering the welfare of a child under N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4a(1) and fourth-degree criminal sexual contact under N.J.S.A. 2C:14-3b, per the same Morris Focus report. He was subsequently transported to the Morris County Correctional Facility, where he is being held pending a future court appearance in Morris County Superior Court. As with all defendants, Hidary is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and the charges outlined remain accusations at this stage.
What the Charges Could Mean for Hidary
The two charges carry significant weight under New Jersey law. Third-degree child endangerment carries a potential sentence of three to five years in state prison along with discretionary fines of up to $15,000, according to the Law Office of Anthony J. Vecchio, LLC. The fourth-degree criminal sexual contact charge adds statutory penalties of up to 18 months in prison and a fine as high as $10,000, per Reisig Criminal Defense & DWI Law, LLC. Combined, the charges expose Hidary to as much as 6.5 years behind bars.
A conviction on the child endangerment charge would also trigger mandatory registration under New Jersey's Megan's Law along with lifetime community supervision, according to Brett Rosen Law. Whether Hidary remains held at the Morris County jail through trial will hinge on New Jersey's bail system, which largely eliminated cash bail under the Criminal Justice Reform Act. Prosecutors would need to present clear and convincing evidence at a formal detention hearing that no release conditions could adequately protect public safety, explains William Proetta Criminal Law.
An Unusual Case for a Quiet Downtown
The alleged incident unfolded on Broadway, where officers later located Hidary.
The case stands out in Denville. Denville had an estimated population of 16,669 in 2018. The Morris County Guide also mentions the town's commercial district.
Where Hidary Is Being Held
Hidary is now lodged at the Morris County Correctional Facility. The facility received a 100% compliance rating during a state inspection in May, according to WRNJ Radio. The article provides no inmate-population or admissions figures for the facility.
Several open questions remain about the case, including what brought Hidary from Manhattan to Denville and whether he and the alleged victim knew each other. A timeline for his next court appearance in Morris County Superior Court has not yet been made public.
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