Story by Ethan
On October 17th, the arrest of Jesus Ruiz Merino, age 43, was announced by Acting Hudson County Prosecutor Wayne Mello. Jesus Ruiz Merino was charged with first-degree Kidnapping, two counts of first-degree Aggravated Sexual Assault, second-degree Sexual Assault, and third-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child. The arrest and charges against Jesus Ruiz Merino were a result of an investigation handled by the Special Victims Unit, Secaucus Police Department, and West New York Police Department.
According to the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, on October 13th, 2025 the 14-year old female victim reported to the Secaucus Police Department that she had been sexually assaulted. The victim alleges that she was approached by Jesus Ruiz Merino in the area of 60th Street and Bergenline Avenue in West New York, New Jersey. Allegedly Jesus Ruiz Merino had offered the victim a ride before then driving her to a motel off of route 3 and sexually assaulting her there. Jesus Ruiz Merino was located and arrested at his residence on October 16th, 2025, then being transferred to the Hudson County Correctional Facility.
The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office stated that the charges against Jesus Ruiz Merino are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
