Holmdel Man Indicted for Sexual Assault of a Child Under 13

A Holmdel man will stand trial for the crime of sexual assault of a child under 13 years old, following a decision by a Monmouth County Grand Jury sitting in Freehold today.

Alexander Walter of 30 Longview Drive, Holmdel, was indicted on four counts related to the alleged sexual assault of the girl. 

Court documents released by the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office say that Walter is alleged to have intentionally touched the child's private parts, and his own private parts while the girl watched, on occasions between December 1 and April 1, 2011. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in, or around, Holmdel Township.

The charges also include endangering the welfare of a child and lewdness. The first three counts named are second degree crimes, and punishable by five to ten years upon conviction. Lewdness is a fourth degree crime, and carries a three to five year prison sentence upon conviction. 

Holmdel Police Detective Eric Hernando arrested Walter on April 5, 2011, after a report made by the victim. Bail was set at $100,000, with no ten percent option by Judge Mary Casey. He was remanded to Monmouth County Correctional Institution in default of bail on April 5. He was released on April 9 after posting bail.

The report of the arrest was not released to the media, said Det. Louis Torres, to protect the identity of the victim and because the case was being handled by the Prosecutor's Office. The victim's name was not released by county officials. 

In today's action, the Grand Jury voted that charges may be brought against Walter, but the jury does not determine guilt or innocence. Defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial.

Assistant Prosecutor William Somers of the Monmouth County Sex Crimes Unit will serve as the prosecutor in the case. Walter will be defended by attorney Mitchell Ansell of Ocean Township.