Camden Police have charged a 19-year-old man in connection with three sexual assaults in Camden, NJ that occurred over the past month.
Police say Kevin Cleveland, of the 400 block of Rand Street, was charged Friday with more than a dozen offenses for three sexual assaults and a robbery that took place in Farnham Park between January and February. His was held on $800,000 bail.
Investigators arrested Cleveland Friday at his home after receiving help from the public through their tip line.
All three sexual assaults took place near Camden High School in the Farnham Park area at Park Avenue and Baird Boulevard, according to investigators. The alleged attacks happened in the afternoon hours between 2 to 5:30 p.m., police say. The victims are 13, 16 and 20 years of age. The youngest victim identified Cleveland as her attacker in a photo array.
Cleveland was also charged with an unrelated count of robbery on January 2 in the same park. Police say he came up behind a woman, covered her mouth and stole $137 from her. Police say she was not sexually assaulted.
Police also investigated an alleged fourth sexual assault in the same area. But later found the woman making the claim lied. Police charged 25-year-old Janira Lebron with Providing False Information to Police after she told investigators she had been sexually assaulted near Baird Boulevard and Randolph Street Jan. 22.
The woman told police a man came up from behind her with a knife and then took her to a field and assaulted her. Police say she gave information indicating the man was the same person who assaulted three other women.
A further investigation by the Prosecutor’s Office and Camden Police Department determined the woman's story was untrue. She had instead been involved with a domestic incident with an acquaintance. Police say an investigation into those false allegations prevented officers from arresting Cleveland Thursday.
If found guilty, Cleveland could face 100 years in prison.
Fan, follow and download: Get the latest from NBCPhiladelphia.com anytime, anywhere. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and NBC Philadelphia. Sign up for our sports newsletter. And, get breaking news delivered right to your mobile phone -- just text PHIBREAKING to 639710 to sign up. (Message and data rates may apply.)
