An Egg Harbor City man accused of sexually assaulting three girls younger than 10 was ordered held in jail Tuesday.
Manuel Teni, 24, was already in jail on a separate charged since May 14, when he allegedly assaulted a sleeping Atlantic City woman and then escaped out the window of her home.
The woman's husband was able to get video of Teni climbing down the roof, according to the affidavit of probable cause. Teni had a key to the home, where he was staying while waiting for a place, police were told.
He now faces nine new charges in the alleged attacks on three sisters, ages 4, 7 and 9, who were interviewed after the Division of Child Protection and Permanency notified the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office.
The girls told police that Teni called them each up to the bedroom the girls shared separately, beginning with the eldest sister. Each recounted how he tried removing their pants, with each girl ending up in tears and coming downstairs, only to have Teni call up the next girl.
The youngest suffered an aggravated sexual assault, according to the charges. Her sisters saw the girl come downstairs with Teni, who had given her a Jell-O cup after the alleged assault.
Teni was already on pretrial release at the time of the alleged attacks, stemming from a domestic assault by strangulation case out of Plainfield, Union County, from 2020.
He failed to appear in the case for more than two years, Assistant Prosecutor Joseph Remy told the judge.
Due to the age of the alleged victims in his latest case, Teni could face a possible life sentence if convicted.
Judge Joseph Levin ordered Teni held, saying he "presents a clear and present danger to the community."
