Edwin Chaparro
Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Paterson Police Acting Chief Bert Ribeiro
announce the arrest of Edwin Chaparro, 56 years old, from Paterson, New Jersey. Mr. Chaparro
was arrested on February 7, 2023, by members of the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office following
an investigation by the Special Victims Unit.
Mr. Chaparro is charged with one count of Aggravated Sexual Assault, in violation of
N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2a(1), a first degree offense; two counts of Sexual Assault, in violation of
N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2b, a second degree offense; two counts of Endangering the Welfare of Children, in
violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4a(1), both second degree offenses; and one count of Endangering the
Welfare of Children, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4a(2), a second degree offense.
On November 5, 2022, the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit was contacted
by the Paterson Police Department regarding allegations of sexual assault Mr. Chaparro committed
against a victim who was, at the time of the alleged offenses, between the ages of five and seven
years old. Thereafter, the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit collected
evidence and interviewed multiple witnesses. The State alleges that Mr. Chaparro sexually assaulted
the victim on more than one occasion between June 2001 and June 2004 at a residence in Paterson.
The sentencing exposure on first degree Aggravated Sexual Assault is twenty-five years to life in
New Jersey State Prison with twenty-five years to be served before parole eligibility, pursuant to the
Jessica Lunsford Act. Second degree Sexual Assault carries five to ten years in New Jersey State
Prison with an eighty-five percent parole disqualifier. The sentencing exposure on second degree
Endangering the Welfare of Children is five to ten years in New Jersey State Prison. If convicted,
Mr. Chaparro would be required to submit to an evaluation as to the nature of his sexual conduct at
the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Avenel. He would also be subject to Parole
Supervision for Life and Megan’s Law registration requirements upon conviction.
Mr. Chaparro is currently detained at the Passaic County Jail. The State will be filing a motion for
pre-trial detention which will be heard by a Superior Court Judge on a date and time to be determined
by the Court.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, defendants are presumed
innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office asks anyone with additional information about this incident
or other incidents regarding this individual to contact us on our tips line at 1-877-370-PCPO.
