MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll, Chief of Detectives Robert McNally, and Morristown Police Chief Darnell Richardson confirmed that John Dowd, 56, of Morristown, has been charged with first-degree aggravated sexual assault and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child. The charges relate to an alleged assault on May 9. Dowd, who is homeless, is known to frequent the Morristown area.
The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office was notified on May 15 of an incident that had taken place on May 9 at George Gramby Memorial Park, located in Morristown. The four-year-old juvenile male victim reported that he was sexually assaulted by an unknown man while in the park. The man was later identified as John Dowd. Dowd was located, taken into custody, and formally charged on May 15.
The incident remains under investigation, and no further information will be released.
As a result of the investigation, the defendant has been charged with first degree Aggravated Sexual Assault in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2(a)(1), and third-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4(a)(1). Under the Criminal Justice Reform Act, Dowd has been detained in the Morris County Correctional Facility pending a detention hearing.
Multiple law enforcement agencies have participated in this investigation, including members of the Morristown Police Department and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit at (973) 285-6200 or the Morristown Police Department at (973) 538-2200.
