WOODBURY -- A Swedesboro man who was accused of sexually assaulting two children in separate cases in Gloucester and Salem counties will spend at least three years in prison before he is eligible for parole.
Aaron T. Fletcher, 28, pleaded guilty in April to two counts of endangering the welfare of a child as part of a plea deal in Gloucester County Superior Court, and was recently sentenced to 10 years in prison with no early eligibility for parole.
At the same time, he was sentenced to 6 years in the Salem County case, but is eligible for parole after three years. That means his aggregate sentence is 10 years, with parole eligibility after three years.
He was originally indicted in Gloucester County last year on two counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault of victims less than 13 years old, five counts of second-degree sexual assault, six counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child and resisting arrest. Those additional charges were dismissed.
"As part of the resolution, which included an appropriate sentence that was satisfactory to the prosecution and the victims -- who will avoid having to testify in a trial as a result -- the other counts of the indictment are to be dismissed at sentencing," GCPO spokesman Bernie Weisenfeld previously said.
Fletcher was arrested in Gloucester County in May 2016 on charges that he abused the kids over a two-year period between November 2013 and May 2015 using broom sticks and beer bottles. He allegedly fought with four police officers as he was arrested, according to his criminal complaint.
In the Salem case, he pleaded guilty to two second-degree charges of endangering the welfare of a child/sexual conduct with a child by a caretaker. The original charges in that case included aggravated sexual assault, terroristic threats, criminal restraint and employing a juvenile in a CDS distribution scheme.
As part of his sentences, Fletcher is required to register as a sex offender upon his release, which includes parole supervision for life.
These weren't his first encounters with the criminal justice system.
Fletcher served 132 days in jail for a 2014 incident in which he allegedly set a Woolwich Township house on fire with seven people inside. Initially charged with aggravated arson and attempted murder, he pleaded guilty to criminal mischief.
Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.