July 24, 2007: Morris County Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi, Esq., Acting Chief of Investigations Joseph A. Cannatella, and Pequannock Township Police Chief Brian Spring, announce the arrest of Pompton Plains resident William Christenson, age 45, on two counts of First Degree Aggravated Sexual Assault, one count of Second Degree Sexual Assault, one count of Second Degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child and one count of Third Degree Aggravated Criminal Sexual Contact.

The charges are the result of a collaborative investigation by the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Sex Crimes Unit and the Pequannock Township Police Department.

On June 5, 2007, Detective Dan Haber of the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Sex Crimes Unit, received information from Detective Lisa DeLuca Cannata of the Pequannock Police Department regarding the defendant inappropriately contacting the victim.

The defendant is alleged to have sexually abused the victim for a period of three years spanning from the summer of 2003 until January of 2006. There were numerous alleged acts of sexual penetration and sexual contact occurring in Pequannock Township. The victim disclosed the abuse in April of 2006.

Prosecutor Bianchi said, "It is commendable to see law enforcement agencies working in unison to keep our children safe from predators. The Morris County Prosecutor's Office Sex Crimes Unit and the Pequannock Township Police Department have done the citizens of Morris County a great service by protecting them and taking this person off of our streets."

Bail was set by N. Peter Conforti, J.S.C. in the amount of $100,000.00, no 10% option cash/bond/property, no contact with the victim and no unsupervised contact with children under the age of 16. The investigation remains open and anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Morris County Prosecutor's Office at 973-285-6200 or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-COP-CALL.

Despite these pending charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt following a jury trial at which the defendant has all of his rights guaranteed by the U.S. and New Jersey Constitutions and relevant state law.

Media Contact: Agent Robyn D'Onofrio
(973) 285-6222