January 9, 2008: First Assistant Prosecutor Thomas A. Zelante, Esq. announces the sentencing of Morristown resident Joel Romero, age 28.

Romero pled guilty to First Degree Kidnapping and First Degree Aggravated Sexual Assault. The Honorable Joseph A. Falcone, J.S.C., sentenced the defendant on January 8, 2008 to 20 years in New Jersey State Prison with 85% of the sentence to be served before being eligible for parole, Parole Supervision for Life and register under Megan’s Law. The defendant has been incarcerated since the time of his arrest on July 10, 2005.

On July 10, 2005, the victim, who was walking home from a Morristown bar, passed a group of men, one of them, Romero, who broke away from the crowd and followed the victim. He tried to engage the victim in conversation and then pushed her down on a sidewalk on Olyphant Place. He attempted to rape the victim there; however he dragged her up an embankment and behind shrubbery to a secluded wooded area. Romero then choked her and raped her. A neighbor heard the screams and called 911.

Co-defendant Juan Amendano, age 25, who previously pled guilty in April, now wishes to withdraw his guilty plea. Judge Falcone has scheduled a hearing on March 14, 2008 to determine whether or not to allow Amendano to withdraw his plea.

First Assistant Prosecutor Zelante said "I am proud of the passionate arguments made by senior staff attorney, Maggie Calderwood, on behalf of the victim in this case and all of the citizens of Morris County. They were well articulated and forcefully presented.

This sentence hopefully begins to bring closure to the victim. I applaud the expeditious police work by the Morristown Bureau of Police, specifically Officer Brian McDonnell, Officer Jason DelosSantos and Detective Daniel Widdis, in their apprehension and investigation of this individual."

Media Contact: Agent Robyn D'Onofrio