Story by Ethan
On October 17th, 2025, the arrest of Esther Silva, age 65, was announced by Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes. Esther Silva was charged with first and second-degree charges of Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Sexual Assault, first and second-degree charges of Endangering the Welfare of a Child – Permitting a Child to Engage in a Recorded Sexual Act, and third-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child – Sexual Conduct. The arrest and charges against Esther Silva were a result of an investigation handled by the Paterson Police Department and the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit.
According to the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, a sexual assault case from 2007 was reopened due to newfound evidence being discovered by the Paterson Police Department. This newfound information was relayed to the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit, and further investigation revealed that allegedly Esther Silva had recorded and, on numerous occasions, facilitate sexual abuse between the 15 to 16 year old victim and a now deceased man. Esther Silva was located and arrested on October 15th, 2025, at approximately 10:30 a.m. in the area of Route 94 and Oraton Lane in Knowlton Township, New Jersey.
The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office stated that the charges against Esther Silva are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
