Former East Orange Police Officer, Devin L. Higgs, was convicted after a jury trial for aggravated assault and child abuse of his then, nine-year old son.
Story by Jasmin
Back in February 2018, Police Officer Devin L. Higgs, 53, from West Orange, took his son to the hospital for injuries that he claimed resulted from his son having fall. At the time, Mr. Higgs, was still an East Orange Police Officer.
Medical Professionals found 22 fractures on the child ribs. In addition, the son suffered from a fractured scapula bone and other serious injuries that were confirmed to Senior Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Meredith Mona, who was working alongside Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Victoria Saraiva at the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit. The 9-year old was also found with multiple bruises, scars and marks on his body which was expressive of child abuse. Both father and son didn’t contain explanations for the child’s injuries other than the vague responses that the child fell. The child remained in the hospital for 6 weeks where he was battling several infections and was also recovering from several broken bones. During his time being hospitalized the boy finally disclosed to the medical staff the actual cause of his injuries. The boy confessed his injuries were caused by his father , who would hit him at home. He didn’t speak up sooner, he said, because he was told by his father it was “family business” and shouldn’t be discussed.
In March of 2024, the four-day trial began before Superior Court Judge Patrick Arre, were the jury found Higgs guilty of two second degree aggravated assault for causing serious bodily, one for disorderly persons offense of simple assault for causing a head injury, four counts of second degree endangering the welfare of a minor, one count of second-degree hindering apprehension and one count of second degree official misconduct.
On April 12,2024 Higgs was sentenced up to 80 years in New Jersey State Prison.
“We would like to thank the victim for his tremendous bravery in coming forward and testifying in this case,” said Mona. “We are also grateful to the medical providers at Cooperman Barnabas Hospital who discovered the abuse, as well as the team at Robert Wood Johnson Children’s Hospital who provided the boy with life-saving care and treatment.”
Saraiva said the jury returned a just verdict that will provide closure for the child, “and which we hope sends a message that encourages victims of abuse to come forward and alerts perpetrators to the fact that they will be held responsible for their criminal conduct.”
