Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on February 28, 2023, Malcolm Hamilton, 26, of Lakewood, was charged with Attempted Aggravated Sexual Assault, Attempted Sexual Assault, Aggravated Criminal Sexual Contact, Aggravated Assault, Kidnapping, and Burglary, all in connection with an incident that occurred on December 29, 2022, in Jackson Township.
On December 29, 2022, officers from the Jackson Township Police Department responded to an apartment building for a report of an attempted sexual assault, kidnapping, and aggravated assault. An investigation conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and Jackson Township Police Department revealed that a female victim was attacked by an unknown male assailant in the laundry room of the apartment complex at approximately 4:50 p.m. The victim was taken to Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus, in Lakewood, where she was treated for her injuries and released.
An extensive investigation conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victim’s Unit and Jackson Township Police Department identified Hamilton as a suspect. As the investigation progressed, detectives identified an additional victim in an unrelated incident and charged him with Stalking, three counts of Burglary, and two counts of Credit Card Theft. Hamilton was taken into custody on February 23, 2023, without incident, and lodged in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.
Further investigation established that Hamilton was, in fact, responsible for the attempted aggravated sexual assault, attempted sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual contact, aggravated assault, kidnapping, and burglary that occurred in Jackson Township on December 29, 2022. On February 28, 2023, Hamilton was served with the aforementioned charges at the Ocean County Jail, and presently awaits a detention hearing.
“Based on our investigation and the evidence we have compiled, we believe there may be additional unidentified victims, particularly in the Lakewood, Jackson and Howell Township area. If you recognize Mr. Hamilton and believe you may have had contact with him, please contact Detective Nicole Testa of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit at 732-929-2027, extension 3489, or Detective Stephen Purtell of the Jackson Township Police Department at 732-928-1111,” Prosecutor Billhimer stated.
Prosecutor Billhimer commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victim’s Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, Jackson Township Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, for their combined and collective assistance in connection with this investigation.
The charges referenced above are merely accusations and the press and public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
R.P.C. 3.6(b)(6).