Man contacted girl he allegedly sexually assaulted, cops say

Husband and wife face charges

HACKENSACK -- A man accused of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl violated a court order by contacting the victim, and his wife deleted the communications, Bergen County authorities said Saturday.

Karl Weckstrom, 46, of Park Ridge, and Michele Weckstrom, 44, of Emerson, were arrested Friday on charges of witness tampering and disobeying a judicial order, according to Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal. Michele Weckstrom was also charged with hindering prosecution.

Karl Weckstrom was barred from contacting the girl after his arrest in October 2013, the prosecutor said. On Thursday, however, Special Victims Unit detectives learned she received unspecified communications from her alleged abuser.

"Additionally, it was reported that Michele L. Weckstrom had tampered with evidence by deleting the communications," Grewal said in a statement.

The couple were remanded to the Bergen County Jail ahead of a Feb. 23 court hearing, officials said.

In the 2013 case, Karl M. Weckstrom was accused of aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.