Resident of Maplewood Convicted of Sexually Assaulting a Seven-Year Old Girl
By: Moe M.
On October 27, 2017, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office announced the conviction of Gery Destra, a twenty-one (21) year old resident of Maplewood, for sexually assaulting a seven (7) year old girl.
The matter proceeded with a jury-trial before the Honorable Verna Leath, a Superior Court Judge. Gery Destra was charged with Aggravated Sexual Assault, Sexual Assault, Aggravated Assault and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. These charges are for actions that were taken when the girl was between the ages of six and seven years old.
The Superior Court has scheduled a sentencing hearing on January 25, 2018 for Mr. Destra’s crimes. Mr. Destra is facing a mandatory minimum of twenty-five (25) years to life in N.J. State Prison as the Jessica Lunsford Act requires defendants convicted of raping children under the age of thirteen (13) years old to serve the full 25 year sentence. Furthermore, this sentence term is prison without the possibility of parole.
All persons are assumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
