An Irvington man will spend the next two and a half decades behind bars without the possibility of parole for the sexual assault of a 10-year-old girl.
Osbourne Gooden, 64, was sentenced to 25 years in state prison. The sentencing follows a trial where an Essex County jury convicted Gooden of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and third-degree criminal restraint.
The conviction stems from an incident on June 22, 2020. Assistant Prosecutors Cynthia Teller and Steven Paskowitz proved at trial that the victim had been sitting on her front porch with her mother, her sister, Gooden, and a friend of his.
When the 10-year-old girl briefly went inside the house, Gooden followed her into the residence and assaulted her.
Under the strict terms of his sentence, Gooden is entirely ineligible for parole. In addition to his 25-year prison term, the judge ordered that Gooden be placed under parole supervision for life and required to register as a sex offender under Megan's Law upon any future release.
Following the sentencing hearing, Assistant Prosecutor Teller emphasized the importance of the ruling for the young survivor.
"While no sentence can erase the trauma endured by the victim, it reflects the gravity and seriousness of these crimes," Teller said. "Our office remains committed to seeking justice for survivors of sexual assault and protecting our community. We commend the victim’s courage and hope this outcome provides a measure of justice and closure."