NEWARK, N.J. (WCBS 880) — A Newark man was charged Wednesday with robbing, carjacking and sexually assaulting a 55-year-old woman in 2019, prosecutors said.
According to the Essex County Prosecutor's office, the woman was driving home from church in July 2019 when she stopped at an ATM on Bergen Street in Newark.
There, she was allegedly approached by 23-year-old Austin Be-Kwao, who pointed a gun at her and demanded cash.
Prosecutors say he then ordered her back into her own vehicle and forced her, at gunpoint, to drive to a second location. There he allegedly sexually assaulted her in the backseat of the car.
Officials did not provide any further details regarding the incident.
According to Assistant Prosecutor Jeffrey Conrad, investigators obtained DNA evidence from the sexual assault, which was found to be consistent with Be-Kwao.
He is currently being held in Union County Jail, officials said.
