Mahwah Teens Allegedly Force Fair Lawn Train Traveler To Perform 'Sex Acts'

Police are investigating the alleged robbery and sexual assault of a 20-year-old Fair Lawn man whom police say drunkenly encountered two Mahwah teens on a train from New York City last week.

According to Mahwah Police Chief Jim Batelli, police suspect two Mahwah teenagers of forcing the Fair Lawn man to perform sexual acts on them, and stole his iPad and wad of cash after the duo met the man on the train at around 3 a.m. last Thursday.

According to a press release from Batelli Monday, the man had been drinking in New York City Thursday night when he boarded a train in an attempt to get home.

“While on the train he was approached by two younger individuals who offered their assistance in getting him home and paid for his ticket,” Batelli said.

When the train arrived in Mahwah, police say the two told the man they would take him to a transfer train to Fair Lawn, but instead took him to a clearing in the woods near the train station.

According to Batelli, one of the teens forced the man to “commit a sex act,” on him in the woods. “No weapon was used although the victim stated he felt that he was not able to leave,” he said.

The two then allegedly went to a township home and tried to force the man inside, police said. When the man refused, the two men again forced the man to perform sexual acts on them outside the home, Batelli said.

Cops say the teens directed the man back to the train station, where he noticed that his iPad and $155 in cash were missing from his backpack, and reported the incident to police.

Police identified two teenage suspects based on the man’s descriptions, and went to their homes to question the suspects, Batelli said.

“The...clothing described by the victim matched that being worn by one of the suspects,” Batelli said. “[Officers] also believe they located the residence where one of the assaults took place and located corroborating physical evidence to confirm that.”

Batelli said the suspects’ parents would not allow them to talk to police.

After initially wanting to press charges, the victim has “changed his mind,” Batelli said. Police say the investigation into the incident is ongoing, and plan further interviews with the victim.

The names of the underage suspects and the man are being withheld due to the nature of the case and the age of the suspects, police said.