North Bergen Man Charged with Kidnapping and Sexually Assaulting Juvenile

A North Bergen man has been arrested and charged following an investigation into the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl in Secaucus, according to Acting Hudson County Prosecutor Wayne Mello.

Jesus Ruiz Merino, 43, is charged with first-degree kidnapping, two counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, second-degree sexual assault, and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child. He was taken into custody at his residence on Thursday, October 16, 2025, and transported to the Hudson County Correctional Center, where he awaits his first court appearance.

The charges stem from an incident reported on Monday, October 13, 2025, when the Secaucus Police Department was notified of a sexual assault at a motel on Route 3. The victim, a 14-year-old female, stated that she was approached by an unknown male in the area of 60th Street and Bergenline Avenue in West New York. The individual, later identified as Ruiz Merino, allegedly offered her a ride and then drove to the motel, where the assault occurred.

Acting Prosecutor Mello credited the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit, the Secaucus Police Department, and the West New York Police Department with the investigation and arrest.