A former Cape May County corrections officer soon will be headed to state prison.
Jonathan Perez, 34, was convicted Friday in the sexual assault of a preteen girl.
Four weeks after his trial began, a jury convicted Perez on four counts, including two charges of first-degree aggravated sexual assault on a minor.
Perez could face life in prison under the Jessica Lunsford Act, which calls for a minimum of 25 years in prison for any conviction of aggravated sexual assault with a victim younger than 13.
Prosecutor Jeffrey Sutherland lauded "the dedicated detectives, forensic nurses, medical professionals, victim advocates and Senior Assistant Prosecutor Bryna Batten in obtaining a guilty verdict."
“Thanks to the diligent efforts and unwavering commitment of our law-enforcement professionals, justice has been served swiftly and decisively," he said. "Their dedication to upholding the law and seeking justice for victims is commendable.”
Cases like this show the success of collaborative efforts of our law enforcement agencies and the judicial system, he said.
"There is no tolerance for such behavior within our ranks or our community," he said. "We recognize the gravity of these charges and the impact they have on the trust between law enforcement and the community we serve. Our thoughts are with the victim and her family during this difficult time. We commend their bravery in coming forward and speaking out against this egregious behavior."
Perez will remain in the Atlantic County Justice Facility, where he has been since his arrest.
His sentencing is scheduled for June 12, but often sexual assault cases take longer since he would first have to undergo an evaluation at the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Avenel, Middlesex County.
