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Authorities were fortunate in this case: The victim, now 17 years old, recently told her therapist what happened. The N.J. Division of Youth and Family Services was called immediately, and the case was instantly pursued by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Unit.
Lopusnak, who lives with his wife in Montvale, was immediately interviewed — and charged.
Many minors in similar circumstances are afraid to speak up for various reasons. Some fear they won’t be believed — or, worse, will be punished or ostracized for it. Others too young to understand the circumstances don’t want to get the abuser in trouble.
That’s because, in a vast majority of cases, the abuser is someone known or related to the family, someone who gained your trust in order to fulfill a perverted and illegal desire. Often, it’s someone you would have never expected.
That’s what was so critical about this teen coming forward — and about the responses of the professionals.
Moving swiftly and with purpose, they not only took a potential predator off the street. They also validated this girl’s situation, providing her security and safety in what, for the past severals, must have seemed like a cruel and unfair world.
“The alleged abuse involved touching of the private parts, cunnilingus, fellation, digital penetration and sexual intercourse,” Molinelli said with disdain.
Of course, as is his responsibility, he noted that everyone is presumed innocent until proven otherwise in a court of law. However, should the allegations be upheld, either through a trial or plea, there’s no telling how much harm was prevented by the youngster’s courage — and how far it can go toward rebuilding her confidence.
Lopusnak is being held on $300,000 bail in the Bergen County Jail, charged with aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child. A woman who answered the phone at Prestige BMW, where Lopusnak works, told CLIFFVIEWPILOT.COM that he is on vacation this week.
She said she didn’t even know about his arrest.
Anyone with additional information about Lopusnak, even including photographs, please contact me at GerardJDeMarco@gmail.com. Meanwhile, I will continue to try and obtain as much as I can about him and the case.
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