Newark Man Sex Assaulted, Filmed Child; Sentenced To 25 Years

NEWARK, NJ — A Newark man was sentenced to 25 years in state prison last week for sexually assaulting an 8-year-old girl and filming the encounter, prosecutors said.

According to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, Diego Ayala, 35, of Newark, was sentenced to 25 years in New Jersey state prison on April 13. Under the terms of a plea agreement, Ayala will be required to serve the entire 25-year sentence pursuant to the Jessica Lunsford Act.

He was additionally sentenced to parole supervision for life and will be required to register under Megan’s Law, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors stated:

“Ayala pled guilty to two counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault of a victim under the age of 13 and one count of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child. When he entered his guilty plea, Ayala admitted to sexually assaulting the 8-year-old victim and filming the sexual assaults of the victim on his cellphone.”

The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victim’s Unit, with assistance of the Newark Police Department, investigated the case.

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