Two Newark New Jersey men were recently sentenced to time in state prison for sexually assaulting a young girl in Irvington, NJ.

According to Essex County NJ prosecutors, the sexual assault happened at an abandoned house located in Irvington, New Jersey.

The suspects, who are 23 and 27 years old, started communicating with the 12-year-old victim on Facebook in September 2013.

Police were eventually alerted and began an investigation into the suspects. Once authorities had enough evidence, the suspects were placed under arrest. The suspects were then charged with multiple sex offenses, including aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child.

The suspects later appeared in Essex County Superior Court and entered guilty pleas on the very serious charges.

Now the suspects have been sentenced to lengthy terms of incarceration. The 23-year-old suspect was sentenced to 10 years in New Jersey State Prison; the 27-year-old suspect was sentenced to 7 years in New Jersey State Prison. The suspects will need to serve at least 85 percent of their sentences before becoming eligible for release on parole.

Furthermore, the suspects will have to register as sex offenders under Megan’s Law once they are released from prison.

Shortly after the sentences were handed down by the superior court judge, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office released a statement and said that the case demonstrates that NJ sex crime laws work “to protect children from the predatory behavior engaged in by these defendants.”

For further information about this case, read the NJ.com article entitled “Newark Men Sentenced for Sexually Assaulting Girl, 12, After Meeting on Facebook.”