A man accused of sexually assaulting a girl over several years when he stayed with her family in Atlantic City will remain in jail pending trial.
Martin Casiano-Roque, now 37, was arrested Oct. 22 in Pennsylvania, where he has been living in an alcohol and drug rehabilitation facility, his attorney said.
The investigation began March 9, 2018, with a referral from the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, according to the affidavit.
The now-16-year-old girl told Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office investigators that the assaults began when she was 6 years old and continued until 12.
Casiano-Roque gave the girl money and told her not to tell her parents, the affidavit states.
That raises "further concern of witness intimidation in this case, and is of concern to the state," Assistant Prosecutor Erika Halayko told the judge.
Charges were filed Sept. 13, 2019, and Casiano-Roque remained a fugitive until his arrest, Halayko said.
But defense attorney Sarah Weinstock said her client was unaware of the charges.
She asked that he be released back to his live-in program.
Casiano-Roque, who spoke through an interpreter, could not give a timeline for when he would be finished with the program, which he told the judge was 20 months, although he has been there for 23 months.
"How come you haven't been discharged?" Rauh asked.
"Because they have not given me my certificate that says I'm done with the program," he replied.
Noting a "helpless juvenile victim" and "danger to the community," Rauh ordered Casiano-Roque held.
He already has been indicted in the case.
