A New Jersey landlord had been indicted ton dozens of counts related to the alleged drugging and sexual assaults of two tenants over several months.
Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw said that 60-year-old Craig Cardella was charged with 17 counts of kidnapping, 18 counts of aggravated criminal sexual contact, 18 counts of invasion of privacy, 18 counts of endangering another person, and one count of stalking.
The station said the indictments were handed up in December, and Cardella pleaded not guilty this week at his arraignment.
Prosecutors said two men who rented rooms in Cardella’s home were assaulted.
Mansfield Township Police launched an investigation in December 2024 when one of the men contacted them. He said he woke up in the night to find Cardella in bed with him, holding a mask over his mouth, and touching him sexually.
When police executed a search warrant at the home, they found a safe in Cardella’s closet containing two bottles of chloroform, prescription sleep medication, medical masks, a camcorder, and digital storage devices.
Police are now investigating to determine if there were other victims. They asked anyone who thinks they may have been assaulted by Cardella to contact Detective Ken Allen at [email protected].
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[Featured image: Craig Cardella/Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office]
