Update: New charges against alleged Snapchat rapist

Jim Walsh
The Courier-Post
Mason Mallon of Gibbsboro appears before Superior Court in Camden.

This story has been updated to reflect additional charges

CAMDEN - The victim of a sexual assault — shown naked and bloodied in a photo on her accused attacker's Snapchat account — needed two surgeries as a result of her injuries, a prosecutor said Tuesday.

The 18-year-old woman, allegedly assaulted by Mason Mallon, 24, of Gibbsboro, also may require plastic surgery, said Assistant Camden County Prosecutor Sonja Furlow.

“The facts in this case are horrific,” Furlow said at a detention hearing for Mallon.

The prosecutor alleged Mallon violently attacked the woman Aug. 19 after she passed out while drinking vodka and playing video games at his home on the 100 block of West Clementon Road.

Furlow also disclosed Mallon is charged separately under a 12-count indictment arising from the alleged sexual assault of two girls, ages 14 and 15, in Berlin Borough in September 2016. He previously was released pending trial on  those charges, which include endangering the welfare of a child.

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“This defendant’s conduct has escalated,” the prosecutor told Superior Court Judge Kathleen Delaney.

The Camden County Prosecutor's Office on Wednesday charged Mallon with another rape at his home, this one in March 2016. The alleged assault involved a minor girl who had come forward to investigators.

The 17-year-old said she became unable to move after accepting a drink from Mallon, who was an acquaintance;.

"While she was unable to move, he sexually assaulted her," the prosecutor's office said.

Mallon is charged with multiple counts of sexual assault and aggravated assault in connection with the March 2016 incident. He's also accused of criminal restraint and endangering the welfare of a child..

In the most recent case, Mallon is charged with aggravated sexual assault, aggravated assault and other offenses.

Delaney ordered that Mallon be held in jail pending trial on those charges, finding he poses a danger to the community.

She also revoked an order from another judge who had released Mallon in connection with the 2016  allegations.

The earlier release order required Mallon to avoid future charges, Delaney noted.

In the most recent case, Mallon is accused of photographing his victim while she lay unconscious in his bedroom, and then posting the pictures online via Snapchat.

An unidentified woman who knew Mallon and the alleged victim saw the photos and alerted police, Furlow said.

"They found the victim incoherent, moaning and covered in blood," Furlow said.

“This is truly an instance where social media saved this girl’s life,” she said.

When police arrived at the Gibbsboro house for a well-being check, Mallon came to the door and told officers he had posted the photos "to become Facebook famous," according to a probable cause statement for his arrest.

He also claimed the blood shown in the photos "was actually Crystal Light powder," the statement said.

Police then went to Mason's bedroom, where the woman was found with injuries that included "severe bruising over entire body (and a) gash on one leg."

According to Furlow, once the woman revived, Mallon told her they'd engaged in consensual "rough sex" and that she was bleeding due to a miscarriage.

Mason Mallon (left) talks to his attorney Jeffrey C. Zucker as he appears in court during a detention hearing Tuesday. Mallon is accused of raping and beating a woman into unconsciousness, then posting a photo of her on social media.

Furlow insisted the victim “did not consent to having sex … nor did she consent to having her photos posted on Snapchat.”

The prosecutor claimed the photos "corroborate the fact that this was more than just physical rough sex."

Mallon was flanked by two defense attorneys, Brad Wertheimer and Jeffrey Zucker.

“I understand these are somewhat disturbing allegations,” said Wertheimer, who noted Mallon has not been convicted of any sex crimes.

Zucker said the 18-year-old had told Mallon's grandparents "the acts were completely consensual." The woman also has asked to be on Mallon's prison-visitor list and now opposes a restraining order on him, the attorney said.

“I am not persuaded by the argument that the victim may not proceed on a final restraining order,” the judge said. “This is often the case with domestic-violence cases.”

Mallon also is charged with assault, criminal restraint and invasion of privacy. If sentenced consecutively for multiple offenses, he could face a  prison term of more than 35 years, said Furlow, who argued that exposure made him a flight risk.

According to the state Department of Corrections, Mallon was paroled in November 2015 after serving part of a three-year term for possessing a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

He was accused of menacing four people with a rifle, shovel and piece of lumber during an August 2013 incident in Gibbsboro. One man was injured during that episode, according to a 12-count indictment returned in November 2014.

That indictment charged Mallon with multiple accounts of aggravated assault, but he admitted guilt to a weapons offense under a plea agreement.

An investigation continues into Mallon's alleged activities.

Anyone with information is asked to call Prosecutor's Detective Allison Dube-Smith at (856) 225-7105.

Jim Walsh; (856) 486-2646; jwalsh@gannettnj.com