Mercer Co. Child Sexual Assault Suspect Arrested In New Hampshire

Princeton NJ

17 February, 2022

9:18 AM

Description

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — A Mercer County man, who has been on the run from child sexual assault charges since last year, was arrested on Wednesday in New Hampshire. Kedin Mejia-Ayala, 33, of Trenton was captured by the New Hampshire Joint Fugitive Task Force in Tamworth. Jeffrey White, a deputy marshal in the Granite State, said investigators developed information that Mejia-Ayala might be in the North Conway. Mejia-Ayala, he noted, had an active warrant out of New Jersey on sexual assault on a victim under the age of 13, aggravated sexual assault on a victim between the ages of 13 and 16 years of age, and endangering the welfare of a child charges. After the arrest warrant was issued on April 16, 2021, the case was referred to the U.S. Marshals and the New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force not long after. Leads and tips led investigators to New Hampshire. "Members of the U.S. Marshals, NH Joint Fugitive Task Force with the assistance of the NH State Police and the Tamworth Police Department were able to locate and arrest Mejia-Ayala at a residential work site on Chocorua Road in Tamworth," White said. "Although Mejia-Ayala initially attempted to flee and provided a false name of 'Alejandro' to investigators, once detained, he did state that he was Kedin Mejia-Ayala." Mejia-Ayala was taken to the Carroll County Jail in Ossipee as a fugitive from justice based on the outstanding Mercer County, NJ, warrant. "I am extremely proud of the work that all of the investigators did on this case," United States Marshal Nick Willard said. "Offenses against our youth will not be tolerated and we will always prioritize taking people like Mr. Mejia-Ayala off the street so they can have their day in court." Mejia-Ayala will be processed this week and then returned to New Jersey, White said. (This story was originally reported by Tony Schinella,Patch Staff) Thank you for reading. Have a correction or news tip? Email [email protected] Get breaking news alerts on your phone with our app. Download here. Sign up to get Patch emails so you don't miss out on local and statewide news