Man Arrested for Sexual Assault of Child at Morristown Park

Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll, Chief of Detectives Robert McNally, and Morristown Police Chief Darnell Richardson announce the arrest and charging of John Dowd, 56, of Morristown, for first degree Aggravated Sexual Assault and third degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child.

Incident Overview:

• Date of Incident: May 9, 2024
• Location: George Gramby Memorial Park, Morristown, NJ
• Victim: Four-year-old juvenile male
• Suspect: John Dowd, 56, homeless, frequenting Morristown

Details of the Incident:
On May 15, 2024, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office was informed of an incident that occurred on May 9, 2024. A four-year-old boy reported being sexually assaulted by an unknown man at George Gramby Memorial Park. The suspect was later identified as John Dowd. Dowd was located, apprehended, and formally charged on May 15, 2024.

Charges:

• First Degree Aggravated Sexual Assault: N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2(a)(1)
• Third Degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child: N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4(a)(1)

Current Status:
John Dowd has been detained at the Morris County Correctional Facility pending a detention hearing, in accordance with the Criminal Justice Reform Act.

Investigation:
The investigation involves multiple law enforcement agencies, including:

• Morristown Police Department
• Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit

Contact Information:
Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact:

• Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit: (973) 285-6200
• Morristown Police Department: (973) 538-2200

Legal Note:
A criminal complaint is an accusation. The defendant, John Dowd, is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Further Information:
No additional details will be released at this time as the investigation is ongoing.