Jersey man charged with assault on teen

West Milford, N.J. - A Hewlett, N.J., man has been charged with sexually assaulted a 15-year-old Orange County, N.Y., girl that police said he met through the Web site, “MySpace.com.” West Milford Township Police Department arrested Joseph L. DaSilva Jr., 21, of Dunham Road, Hewlett N.J., on Feb. 22. He was charged with one count each of second-degree sexual assault and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child. If convicted, DaSilva faces up to 10 years incarceration and a $100,000 fine on each count. The case began on Feb. 7 when West Milford Police said they received a report that a 15-year-old female from Orange County, N.Y. had met DaSilva on “MySpace.com.” Police said DaSilva told the female that he worked for an AM radio station in Florida, N.Y., that she could work as an intern and that he would pick her up and take her to the station to fill out some paperwork. After picking her up, police said DaSilva and the victim went to DaSilva’s home. The victim told police that while at DaSilva’s home he had sex with her. In New Jersey, a suspect is guilty of sexual assault if he commits any act of sexual penetration with a victim who is at least 13 but less than 16 years old and the defendant is at least four years older than the victim. DaSilva was arrested at West Milford Police headquarters. The investigation was conducted by Det. Joseph Walker with assistance from Det. Robert Congleton. Bail was set by the Passalc County Superior Court at $50,000. DaSilva was released after the ball was posted, The West Milford Police are once again cautioning parents and young people about posting on Web sites such as “MySpace.com.” Many young people under the age of 18 are posting extremely revealing personal Information about themselves on these Web sites. This information always has the potential to allow Individuals to find or identify the user in real life.