Story by Ethan
On February 24th, 2025, the arrests of Marc Piovanetti, age 58, and Jennifer Piovanetti, age 50, were announced by Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella. Marc Piovanetta was charged with four counts of second-degree sexual assault, second-degree luring, second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and two counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child. Jennifer Piovanetti was charged with second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child. The arrest and charges against Marc Piovanetti and Jennifer Piovanetti were a result of an investigation launched by Chief Matthew Finck of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, Chief Matthew Hintze of the Fort Lee Police Department, and Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch of the New York City Police Department.
According to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, on February 23rd, 2025, the New York City Police Department contacted the Fort Lee Police Department about a missing child that was believed to be in the Fort Lee area. Officers located the child who was in the company of Marc Piovanetti and Jennifer Piovanetti in their residence. The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit was contacted by the Fort Lee Police Department and a joint investigation was launched. Allegedly Marc Piovanetti had been in contact with the victim through an online social media app named TurnUp where he discussed plans with the victim to meet up. Once both Marc Piovanetti and the child were at his residence, he offered them marijuana before sexually assaulting them. Jennifer Piovanetti was allegedly also in the residence at the time of the incident, knowing about the acts taking place. It was uncovered that there was another child present at their residence during the time the victim was there. Both Marc Piovanetti and Jennifer Piovanetti were located and arrested in Fort Lee, New Jersey, on February 23rd, 2025, before being held in the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office until their first court appearance.
The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office stated that the charges against Marc Piovanetti and Jennifer Piovanetti are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
