Eight face charges in sexual assault in Lower

Last Updated on Friday, March 22, 2013 05:34 pm Written by Staff Reports Friday, March 22, 2013 05:04 pm

NORTH CAPE MAY -- Seven juveniles and an 18-year-old woman face charges in connection to a sexual assault in a wooded area of Lower Township known as the “Rutherford Tract.”

According to information from the county prosecutor’s office, a juvenile was sexually assaulted and abused March 15. The victim was taken to Cape Regional Medical Center for treatment of injuries sustained in the assault.

Officials released few details of the assault, withholding all information on the victim. There was no immediate response to a request to the county prosecutor’s office for information on the age, gender and towns of the juveniles charged. Police do not release the names of juveniles.

One adult, Brittany Hearon, 18, of Lower Township, was identified in a statement from the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office released Friday afternoon.

The alleged assault took place in a wooded area off Glade Drive.

On March 22, criminal charges were filed against the seven juveniles ranging from first degree aggravated sexual assault, second degree endangering the welfare of a child, second degree aggravated assault, third degree endangering an injured victim, conspiracy and underage consumption of alcohol.

Three of the accused were sent to a juvenile detention center.

Hearon was charged with endangering the welfare of a child and conspiracy to commit endangering an injured victim, both third degree crimes, according to police.

Information on the accusations came as a joint statement from Lower Township Police Chief Brian Marker and county prosecutor Bob Taylor.