Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 36-year-old RENALDO W. BAXTER of Bronx, NY on charges of sexual assault, attempted aggravated sexual assault, and endangering the welfare of a child. The arrest was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck; the Garfield Police Department under the direction of Chief Richard Uram; and The Teaneck Police Department under the direction of Chief Andrew McGurr.
On Friday, May 31, 2024, the Garfield Police Department contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit regarding the alleged sexual abuse of a juvenile under the age of sixteen that occurred in the past. An investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, the Fairview Police Department and Teaneck Police Department revealed that RENALDO W. BAXTER sexually assaulted a juvenile under the age of sixteen in Fairview, NJ and Teaneck, NJ between April and October 2019.
As a result of the investigation, on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, RENALDO W. BAXTER was charged with one count of second-degree attempted aggravated sexual assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:5:2a(1)/2C:14-2a(1), one count of second degree sexual assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2B, two counts of third degree endangering the welfare of a child, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4a(1).
On Wednesday, August 28, 2024, RENALDO W. BAXTER was located and taken into custody by the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force. BAXTER was placed in the custody of the New York City Department of Corrections – Rikers Island Facility pending extradition to Bergen County, NJ.
Prosecutor Musella states that the charges are merely accusations, and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Prosecutor Musella would like to thank the Garfield Police Department and Teaneck Police Department for their assistance in this investigation, as well as the NYPD and FBI for their assistance in the apprehension of the defendant.