Crime & Safety
Accused Sex Abuser's Bail Cut in Half
James Perna of Wayne ordered not to have any contact with children younger than 18 after being charged with aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a child.
A state judge cut James Perna’s bail in half Tuesday because he is a low flight risk, NorthJersey.com reported Tuesday.
Perna, 53, was charged with aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a child last week for allegedly having sexual contact with a 13-year-old boy in 2000, authorities said. Perna lives in Wayne.
“I really don’t think he’s going to flee anywhere,” Joseph Del Russo, Passaic County chief assistant prosecutor, said at Perna's arraignment Tuesday.
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Perna, 53, must strictly follow the conditions of the bail, which includes no unsupervised contact with children younger than 18 or the victim, the website reported. The case was forwarded to the grand jury.
Perna was employed as a Special Deputy Sheriff and was a provisional security guard in the Passaic County Courthouse in Paterson.
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If convicted, Perna could serve a maximum term of 30 years.
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