Man Pleads Guilty to Child Abuse and Neglect Charge

Published on December 15, 2015

Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp announces that Robert Esnes (age 38) of Boonton, New Jersey, entered a guilty plea today before the Honorable Catherine I. Enright, J.S.C. to Child Abuse and Neglect (4^th degree).

In exchange for his guilty plea, at the time of sentencing, the State will recommend probation, and as a condition of probation up to 364 days in the Morris County Correctional Facility, forfeiture of his teaching certificates, follow the recommendations of a psycho-sexual evaluation, and no contact with the victim.

The sentence is scheduled for February 5, 2016.

The prosecution stemmed from the arrest of Esnes on April 15, 2013, after the victim's father reported that the defendant engaged in inappropriate conduct with his minor child. The victim was interviewed and disclosed an incident that occurred on April 13, 2013, where she and the defendant engaged in sexual conduct when she was less than 16 years of age, and the defendant was more than four (4) years older than her.

Prosecutor Knapp would like to thank the Chatham Township Police Department and the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit and Hi-Tech Crimes Unit, whose efforts contributed to this result.

Any inquiries can be directed to Morris County Deputy Chief of Investigations Denise H. Arseneault at 973-285-6262 or darseneault@co.morris.nj.us.