Man gets 23 years in state prison

Michael Figueroa, 32, of Jefferson was sentenced to 23 years in state prison on aggravated sexual assault and related charges Friday, May 31, said Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll, Morris County Chief of Detectives Robert McNally and Jefferson Police Chief Paul Castimore.

Superior Court Judge Ralph Amirata also said he would not be eligible for parole for 23 years, must register under Megan’s Law and would be under parole supervision for life. The last seven years of the sentence will be served at the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center.

On Jan. 17, Figueroa pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, one count of second-degree certain persons not to have weapons and one count of third-degree possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance (CDS).

Last year, a narcotics investigation led law enforcement to obtain a search warrant for Figueroa’s home. The search resulted in the seizure of multiple handguns, a pump-action rifle, about 11 bricks of suspected heroin weighing less than one-half ounce, a bag of suspected cocaine weighing less than one-half ounce, ammunition and a digital scale.

He was charged April 19, 2023.

After his arrest, investigators discovered material that depicted sexual abuse of a child younger than 13 on Figueroa’s smart phone. The sexual assaults of the child allegedly occurred during two years at Figueroa’s home in Jefferson.

Investigators also found additional images of child sexual abuse material on his phone. Additional charges were filed May 1, 2023, in connection with the materials found on the phone.

Figueroa has been detained in the Morris County Correctional Facility since his arrest in April 2023.

Carroll thanked the Jefferson Township Police Department, Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit and Special Operations Division of the prosecutor’s office for their work in the investigation.