Wharton Woman Charged with Sexual Assault of Juvenile

Published on July 25, 2014

Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp announces that Whitney Ball, 25 years old, of Wharton, New Jersey, has been charged with one count of First Degree Aggravated Sexual Assault, two counts of Second Degree Sexual Assault, and two counts of Third Degree Endangering the Welfare of Children.

Defendant is alleged to have engaged in multiple acts of digital penetration, and the defendant is also alleged to have engaged in multiple acts of sexual contact with a victim who was approximately 8 years old when the acts occurred. The victim alleged that the defendant would promise her candy and then would sexually assault her. The acts are alleged to have occurred in Wharton, New Jersey between June 1, 2013 and September 1, 2013. The victim also alleged that the defendant punched and kicked her in the stomach on multiple occasions. Those acts are alleged to have occurred between June 1, 2013 and April 30, 2014.

Defendant was arrested on July 24, 2014, and charged with one count of First Degree Aggravated Sexual Assault, two counts of Second Degree Sexual Assault, and two counts of Third Degree Endangering the Welfare of Children.

The investigation was handled by Morris County Prosecutor's Office Detective James Bruno, Detective Marshall Wang and Det. Jazmin Munoz-Felder.

The Honorable Robert Gilson, J.S.C. set bail at $150,000 cash, bond or property without a 10 percent option, along with the condition that there be no contact with the victim and no unsupervised contact with children under the age of 16. The defendant is currently lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility.

Anyone with information relating to these charges is urged to contact Detective James Bruno at the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit at 973-285-6200.

Prosecutor Knapp would like to thank the members of the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit whose efforts contributed to this arrest.

A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until he or she has been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Any inquiries can be directed to First Assistant Morris County Prosecutor Thomas Zelante at 973-285-6252 or tzelante@co.morris.nj.us.