Lakewood, NJ, Man Charged With Kidnapping, Attempted Sex Assault, Burglary
Officials in Ocean County say a man from Lakewood is facing a list of serious charges in connection to at least two criminal incidents, one at the end of last year in Jackson Township.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer says 26-year-old Malcolm Hamilton has been charged with,
- Attempted aggravated sexual assault
- Attempted sexual assault
- Aggravated criminal sexual contact
- Aggravated assault
- Kidnapping
- Burglary
Billhimer's office says on December 29th of last year, officers with 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 an area hospital where she was treated for her injuries and released.
An extensive investigation identified Hamilton as a suspect.
Police say as their investigation progressed, detectives identified another victim from an unrelated incident and charged him with,
- Stalking
- 3 counts of burglary
- 2 counts of credit card theft.
Hamilton was taken into custody on February 23rd 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.
Authorities believe there may be additional unidentified victims, particularly in the Lakewood, Jackson, and Howell Township areas.
If you recognize Hamilton, you are asked to contact Det. Nicole Testa of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit at (732) 929-2027.
The public is reminded that charges are accusations and all persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.