Crime & Safety

Monmouth Co. Man Sexually Abused 2 Girls, Under 13, For Years: Police

The man is Gerell F. Schmitt, 36, of Eatontown. He was convicted at trial earlier this year and sentenced July 9.

(Shutterstock)

EATONTOWN, NJ — An Eatontown man was sentenced July 9 to 48 years in prison for committing a string of sexual assaults against two young girls over the course of multiple years.

The man is Gerell F. Schmitt, 36.

His sex abuse of the two young girls started about a decade ago, said Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago. Both girls were under the age of 13.

Find out what's happening in Long Branch-Eatontownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Police say Schmitt sexually abused the girls at multiple locations across Monmouth County, including at his home in Eatontown.

An investigation into Schmitt’s activities was initiated by Eatontown Police Detective Christopher Casson in September 2020. That was when a relative of the two girls first reported the abuse to authorities.

Find out what's happening in Long Branch-Eatontownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Schmitt was arrested in October 2020 and stood trial in 2024, with both victims testifying.

A Monmouth County jury ultimately convicted him on charges of first-degree aggravated sex assault, second-degree attempted aggravated sex assault, sex assault and child endangerment.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to [email protected].