Clifton Cop Charged With Aggravated Sexual Assault Of Child

CLIFTON, NJ — A Clifton police officer is charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child after a victim alleged that he sexually abused them on multiple occasions for nearly two years, the Passaic County Prosecutor said.

Frank Castro-Ramierz, 39, of Clifton, faces charges of first degree aggravated sexual assault, third degree aggravated criminal sexual contact, and two counts each of endangering the welfare of a child and second degree sexual assault.

This comes after the Clifton Police Department contacted the Prosecutor's Office on May 28 after receiving a report of a child being sexually abused, the prosecutor said. Prosecutor's Office detectives began interviewing the victim and multiple witnesses after this report, with the victim alleging they were sexually abused by Castro-Ramirez "on numerous occasions" at their own home between May 2019 and April 2021.

Castro was arrested without incident on June 3, and is detained in Bergen County Jail, where he will remain after the state successfully filed a motion for pretrial detention.

The sentencing exposure on first degree Aggravated Sexual Assault is 10 to 20 years in New Jersey State Prison with 85 percent of the term to be served before parole eligibility pursuant to the No Early Release Act, the prosecutor said.

He also faces five to 10 years on the second degree sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child charges. The sentencing exposure on aggravated criminal sexual contact is three to five years.

If convicted, Castro-Ramirez is subject to parole supervision for life, and Megan’s Law registration requirements, the prosecutor said.

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