NEWARK, NJ — A Newark man has been convicted of sexually assaulting three underage family members over an eight-year period.
Terrence Mells, 42, of Newark, was found guilty by an Essex County jury on Friday of three counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, three counts of second-degree sexual assault, one count of third-degree aggravated criminal sexual assault, three counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and one count of first-degree witness tampering.
The verdict came after a four-day trial before the Honorable Naazneen Khan, J.S.C.
Prosecutors proved that Mells abused the three victims multiple times between March 2015 and November 2023.
The abuse began when the victims were 12, 13, and 14 years old.
Prosecutors also alleged that Mells threatened one of his victims after learning he was being investigated for sexual assault.
Assistant Prosecutors Cynthia Teller and Christopher Byrne tried the case.
Mells is scheduled for sentencing on February 23, 2026.
He faces a potential sentence of up to 85 years in New Jersey State Prison.
The case was investigated by the Newark Police Division’s Special Victims Unit and the Essex County Prosecutor Office’s Special Victims Unit.
