WAYNE - A township man who won $338 million in one of the largest Powerball jackpots in New Jersey history has been charged with sexually assaulting a child over a three-year period, prosecutors said Wednesday.
Pedro Quezada, 49, is charged with two counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, two counts of second-degree sexual assault and one count of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, according to Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes.
The female victim was sexually assaulted between the ages of 11 and 14 when Quezada lived in Passaic, Valdes said in a statement.
Quezada won $338 million in 2013, telling reporters of his daily ritual of buying one lottery ticket and two ice cold Corona beers.
Lottery officials said Quezada took a $211 million lump-sum payout that dropped to $152 million after taxes.
In an interview four years ago, Quezada, a former bodega owner, said he had mixed feelings about winning the lottery.
"(When I found out I had the winning ticket), I felt pure joy and happiness because I can help my family," he said on March 26, 2013, when he officially claimed the prize at New Jersey lottery headquarters.
"My life will change because of it - so much money," Quezada said, "but it will not change my heart."
Eight months after his win, his former live-in girlfriend took him to court for not sharing the jackpot, according to published reports. The suit was later dropped after the two agreed to a settlement.
Quezada was also accused of reneging on a promise to pay the rent of all the neighbors on his block, according to published reports.
On his website, Quezada promised to donate money to those less fortunate.
In announcing the arrest, Valdes said "at this time, it appears there are no other victims."
If convicted, Quezada faces 40 years in prison and be required to register as a sex offender, the prosecutor said.
Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.