Luis and Katherine Morales-Sarmiento, who worked as first responders in Burlington County, NJ, were arrested Monday for sexually assaulting a minor
NEWS | LOCAL | CRIME
BEVERLY CITY — A married first responder couple was arrested here Monday for sexually assaulting a minor, Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina and Beverly City Public Safety Director Rich Wolbert announced.
According to the announcement Wednesday from the prosecutor’s office, Luis, 33, and Katherine Morales-Sarmiento, 22, who live on the 500 block of Wheatley Ave., were charged with Second Degree Sexual Assault and a third-degree count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
They were released following a hearing at the Superior Court of Burlington County in Mount Holly Tuesday pending a presentation to a grand jury for possible indictment, the announcement says.
An investigation began into the couple after the minor teenager’s mother contacted police to report the assault, the statement says. Louis Morales, who previously knew the victim, according to the report of the investigation, invited him to his home and led him into the couple’s bedroom where the “sexual contact” occurred.
Both Luis and Katherine are first responders in several Burlington County towns.
Luis volunteers as a firefighter for Beverly Fire Department, according to the prosecutor’s office.
According to sources familiar with her, Katherine is known to have worked as an emergency medical technician for Florence Fire Department and the Palmyra Ambulance Association. She is also known to have worked for Willingboro Fire Department as an EMT before being asked to resign for unknown reasons, these sources said.
Neither of the couples’ employment of volunteer statuses is known at this time.
The New Jersey Office of Emergency Medical Services still had Katherine’s EMT certification marked as active as of Wednesday night.
If convicted of Second-Degree Sexual Assault, a felony, the couple could face a 10-year prison sentence and a fine of up to $150,000.
A third-degree count of endangering the welfare of a child can grant a 5-year sentence and up to a $50,000 fine.
Sources also report that the couple has an infant child in their home. The status of that child was not known at the time of publication.
Assistant Prosecutor LaChia Bradshaw is prosecuting the Morales-Sarmiento’s.
“The investigation was conducted by the Prosecutor’s Office and the Beverly City Police Department,” the announcement from the prosecutor’s office said. “The lead investigators were BCPO Det. Siobhan McClintock and BCPD Patrol Officer Mason Perkins.”
The Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office asks that anyone who may have been victimized by these defendants is encouraged to call the BCPO Major Crimes Unit – Special Victims Section at 609-265-5035 and ask for a detective.
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