Muniru Owe
Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes announces that Muniru Owe, age 74, of Paterson,
New Jersey, was sentenced to an aggregate term of twelve years in New Jersey State Prison by the
Honorable Marybel Mercado-Ramirez, a Judge of the Superior Court.
On January 7, 2020, Haledon Police Department received a report of a 20-year-old woman having
been sexual assaulted by Mr. Owe when she was around five to six years old, from around 2004-
2006. Subsequently, a second woman came forward to report being sexually assaulted by Mr. Owe
from around 2006 to 2008, when she was approximately 19 to 22 years old. Both victims were
sexually abused at a residence in Haledon.
The Honorable Marybel Mercado-Ramirez, J.S.C. presided over a jury trial in February 2025. On
February 24, 2025, a Passaic County petit jury found Mr. Owe guilty of one count of second-degree
sexual assault, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2(b); one count of third-degree endangering the
welfare of a child, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4(a)(1); and one count of second-degree attempted
sexual assault, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2(c) and N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1.
On June 26, 2025, Judge Ramirez sentenced Mr. Owe to an aggregate term of 12 years in New Jersey
State Prison, with defendant to serve 85% of his sentence before parole eligibility pursuant to the
No Early Release Act. Upon release from prison, Mr. Owe will be subject to Parole Supervision for
Life obligations and Megan’s Law registration requirements.
Passaic County Assistant Prosecutor Monica Martini represented the State during the jury trial
before Judge Ramirez. Mr. Owe was represented by Peter Festa, Esq.
