A New Jersey physician filed a criminal complaint against Democratic Assembly nominee Ron Arnau on Monday, saying the candidate illegally shared nude photographs of him with the New Jersey Globe earlier this month.
Physician Cristian Serna-Tamayo alleged Arnau, who is running for Assembly in the 40th legislative district, physically and emotionally abused him during a relationship from 2014 to 2016. Serna-Tamayo, in sworn statements from the time and in an interview with the New Jersey Globe, said Arnau held him at knifepoint for three hours in 2016, leading the pair to receive mutual temporary restraining orders; they later reached an agreement to drop the restraining orders.
Arnau was never criminally charged in the matter and is now married to a different man. He has denied the allegations. Leading Democrats and a top activist have since called on Arnau to either refute the allegations or end his campaign for Assembly.
Arnau said there is evidence to prove his innocence, but claimed he doesn’t know whether he’s legally allowed to share it, though the agreement they reached does not include a confidentiality clause. Instead, Arnau initially sent the New Jersey Globe a selection of images that he says he used to receive a restraining order against Serna-Tamayo, images he said at least partly proved his innocence. Two images show Serna-Tamayo nude, including one picture of him naked in the hallway of his apartment after being locked out by Arnau; Arnau took the photo from the peephole of his door. Some images show Serna-Tamayo holding a knife, though he is not shown threatening anybody with the knife.
After the New Jersey Globe reported that Arnau shared the images earlier this month, Serna-Tamayo received a new restraining order against Arnau, according to a copy he shared with the New Jersey Globe. Serna-Tamayo also filed a criminal complaint against Arnau in Jersey City municipal court, accusing the Democrat of violating the state’s invasion of privacy laws when he shared the images. If convicted of the third-degree offense, Arnau could face a fine and/or jail time.
Arnau, a former Woodland Park councilman, declined to comment on advice of his counsel. He also declined to answer questions about the status of his campaign or whether he is closer to being able to release evidence he claims exculpates him.
He is summoned to appear in Hudson County Superior Court on Aug. 11, where a judge will decide whether to move forward with the charges.
“[The defendant] did distribute nude photos that he took of the complainant without his knowledge or consent,” the complaint reads.
Serna-Tamayo obtained the temporary restraining order on July 12; the TRO blocks Arnau from making contact with Serna-Tamayo and several of his family members. A Jersey City police officer served Arnau with the restraining order that day.
The 40th legislative district, which includes parts of Passaic, Essex, and Bergen counties, is currently represented by GOP Assemblymen Al Barlas (R-Cedar Grove) and Christopher DePhillips (R-Wyckoff). Arnau ran in the primary on Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop’s slate of anti-establishment candidates; the other Democrat running for the seat, former Caldwell Council President Jeff Gates, ran with party support.
Rep. Mikie Sherrill, the Democratic nominee for governor, said Arnau should prove the allegations are false or step down. Three Democratic county chairs, Paul Juliano of Bergen, LeRoy Jones of Essex, and John Currie of Passaic, said the same, as did top LGBTQ+ activist Jeannine Frisby LaRue, the Garden State Equality Action Fund board chair.
Editor’s note: The New Jersey Globe will not publish the images sent by Arnau.