A former Cape May County corrections officer convicted of sexually assaulting a preteen girl was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Jonathan Perez, now 35, was convicted in April on all four charges, including two counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault. Friday in the sexual assault of a preteen girl.
Perez faced a potential life sentence 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.
He must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence, or 25½ years, before he is eligible for parole. He has been jailed for about 18 months, meaning he would be about 59 when he is eligible for parole.
Upon his release, Perez would have to register as a Megan's Law offender and be subject to lifetime supervisions.
He had to forfeit his Police Training Commission Law Enforcement License, and is barred from holding any public office or public employment.
“The prosecution team worked with diligence and purpose, including our assistant prosecutors, detectives, the State Police, the victim advocates, forensic nurses and our staff, to make sure justice was done for the victim and the victim’s family,” Prosecutor Jeffrey Sutherland said.
Perez will remain in the Atlantic County Justice Facility pending his transfer to state prison.
