A New Jersey man invited a 14-year-old boy he met at a park back to his house — then “barricaded” the teen inside and sexually assaulted him, prosecutors allege.
Robert Harper, 54, was arrested for aggravated sexual assault and kidnapping Friday at his Jersey City apartment, two days after meeting the boy at Berry Lane Park, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office said Saturday.
Harper allegedly invited the teen to his Union Street residence and the boy went voluntarily, but then the man “barricaded the teen in the residence and proceeded to sexually assault him before the teen was able to get out,” prosecutors said.
Once the boy managed to break away, he “immediately ran” to police to report the attack, the statement said.
Harper is now facing charges including first-degree kidnapping, aggravated sexual assault and aggravated sexual contact. He has a detention hearing set for Wednesday, authorities said.
It’s unclear if Harper has hired an attorney who could speak on his behalf.
