Trenton Man Arrested and Charged with Aggravated Sexual Assault of Girls Under 13

An investigation conducted by the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and the Trenton Police Department has resulted in the arrest of a 51-year-old Trenton man for sexually assaulting two juveniles in the city, Mercer County Prosecutor Janetta D. Marbrey announced.

Rasheen Gaither, 51, is charged with two counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, two counts of second-degree sexual assault, and one count of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child. The prosecutor’s office has filed a motion to detain Gaither pending trial.

Following reports to police last week that Gaither sexually assaulted two juveniles in August, MCPO Detective Michael Staton and Trenton Police Detective Vishan Singh initiated an investigation. Probable cause was found, and criminal complaints were filed alleging that Gaither sexually assaulted one victim while she was spending the night at his house in Trenton and another victim while she was at an illegal dispensary Gaither operates in the city. 

Both victims were under the age of 13.

On September 5, detectives with the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office and Trenton police executed a search warrant at Gaither’s convenience store, “Bagged U,” in the 100 block of Pennington Avenue in Trenton. He was arrested outside of the establishment without incident. During a search of the premises, detectives seized approximately four pounds of marijuana and a handgun. Gaither was additionally charged with one count of second-degree possession of a handgun.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit Sergeant Sherika Salmon at (609) 960-3119.

Tips can also be submitted anonymously online at www.mercercountyprosecutor.com. Despite having been charged, every defendant is presumed innocent until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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