Burglary plea for teen in sex case

A Roselle teenager pleaded guilty yesterday to a burglary charge, although he was originally charged with breaking into the first-floor bedroom of a sleeping 17-year-old schoolmate and trying to sexually assault her.

As part of a deal with prosecutors, Victor Anderson, 19, will serve less than a year in jail and be placed on probation. The defendant, with a youthful face and close-cropped hair, was led into an Elizabeth courtroom in handcuffs yesterday for a second plea hearing, after initially rejecting the same offer last week.

Yesterday, Anderson told Superior Court Judge Joseph Donohue he would accept the deal. If he had not, the teenage defendant would have faced up to 10 years in state prison for a charge of attempted sexual assault and been required to register as a sex offender under Megan's Law, making him subject to a lifetime of parole supervision.

Anderson had previously claimed to have witnesses who could place him elsewhere at the time of the crime, but their testimony did not provide him with a legitimate alibi, Assistant Prosecutor David Hummel told the judge last week.

Anderson's mother, who watched yesterday's hearing from the court's gallery, and his defense attorney, Dan Smith, declined to comment on the plea deal.

Anderson had originally been charged with attempted sexual assault and burglary for the Aug. 13 attack, in which authorities said he jumped into bed with the girl after breaking into her Roselle home and attempted to pull down her pants. Anderson knew the victim because they were both students at Roselle High School, the assistant prosecutor said.

Anderson startled her awake shortly before 4 a.m., authorities said. The windows of her house on Chestnut Street were left open for ventilation, and he cut through a screen on her first-floor bedroom window and slipped inside, according to police.

The girl fought back loudly and Anderson fled from the house. Her mother, awakened by the screams, said she looked out the window and saw him running away, authorities said.

Shortly after, police found Anderson, who matched the physical description given by the victim and her mother, a few blocks away at the corner of Wheatsheaf Road and West Highland Parkway.

The girl did not need medical attention. Anderson was ordered yesterday to have no contact with the victim.

Julie O'Connor may be reached at (908) 351-7261 or joconnor@starledger.com