On Thursday, February 19, 2026, members of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit arrested a Woodbridge man on sex crimes involving a juvenile.
Tejas Patel, 46, is charged with Sexual Assault in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2c(4), a crime of the second degree and Endangering the Welfare of a Child in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4a(1), a crime of the third degree. He was arrested at the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office in Secaucus and transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility pending his first court appearance.
The crimes occurred in Jersey City on various dates in 2024 when the victim was 15 years old. The defendant met the juvenile victim through the social media platform Snapchat. The defendant is employed with the Hudson County Department of Family Services.
Prosecutor Mello credited the Special Victims Unit with the investigation and arrest. Anyone wishing to report a sex crime should call the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office Special Victims Unit (SVU) at 201-915-1234. The above charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6)
