STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A 25-year-old Staten Island man faces charges that he sexually abused an underage girl and fled from police during a traffic stop in New Jersey.
The arrest of Roni Xhaferi, 25, of Rossville, in October came two months after he made remarks to the media defending his cousin, Alvi Limani of Prince’s Bay, who was accused of drag racing during a fatal crash in June in an unrelated matter.
In his own criminal case, Xhaferi stands accused of sexually abusing an underage girl last year in North Brunswick and fleeing from officers during attempted car stops in New Jersey.
The criminal complaint alleges that Xhaferi connected with the girl on Snapchat in March. The defendant and the victim exchanged nude photos and Xhaferi sent a text message to the victim asking for sex, the complaint alleges.
Xhaferi and his victim met in person a couple of months later and the complaint alleges she was sexually abused in the defendant’s car. Photos of the defendant were obtained by police from the victim’s Snapchat account, authorities said.
Family members notified the North Brunswick Police Department after becoming aware of the alleged sexual abuse and cooperated with the investigation.
The defendant has been charged with sexual assault on a victim age 13 to less than 16 and endangering the welfare of a child by engaging in sexual conduct, according to the complaint.
His next date in Superior Court in Middlesex County, New Jersey, is Feb. 24.
An attorney representing Xhaferi did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Authorities detail pursuits
Xhaferi also stands accused of fleeing from an attempted car stop on Oct. 2 in Bergen County. A sheriff’s officer in a marked car activated lights on Route 4 at River Road in Teaneck.
A radar reading showed Xhaferi was driving a white Nissan with Pennsylvania plates at 86 mph, according to the criminal complaint.
The complaint alleges that instead of complying, Xhaferi changed lanes multiple times as he sped away at speeds exceeding 124 mph.
An officer with the Fair Lawn Police Department spotted the fleeing car and activated lights and sirens in an attempt to pull over Xhaferi’s vehicle. Instead, the defendant allegedly changed lanes and exceeded the speed limit as he drove away. The officer obtained information from the defendant’s license plate number and then discontinued the chase.
A 17-year-old passenger admitted to being scared and asking Xhaferi to pull over and stop the car, authorities said.
Xhaferi faces charges including eluding police and hindering his own apprehension.
Authorities listed Xhaferi’s home address as being in Prince’s Bay in October.
The defendant is due to appear in Superior Court in Bergen County on March 9, according to public records.
An attorney representing Xhaferi did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Fatal crash on Garden State Parkway
Xhaferi made headlines in August when he told reporters his cousin, Limani, wasn’t drag racing or trying to flee the country.
“He’s very upset and hurt by everything that happened. He’s extremely remorseful. That was his best friend that ended up passing away,” Xhaferi told the Daily News.
Authorities allege that Limani was behind the wheel of a BMW X3 on the Garden State Parkway on the evening of June 29, racing another BMW driver when a horrific crash occurred in Woodbridge.
The crash claimed the life of Albion Hysenaj, 19, of Great Kills, and seriously injured Joseph Donzella, 21, of Bay Terrace.
Limani and his mother, Vilma Vneshta, 42, allegedly fled to Miami, Florida, where they were arrested while attempting to fly to Albania, according to authorities.
Xhaferi is not connected to the crash.