A New Jersey property owner faces a substantial list of charges following allegations of drugging and sexually assaulting two tenants over an extended period.

According to Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw, 60-year-old Craig Cardella stands accused of numerous offenses including 17 counts of kidnapping, 18 counts each of aggravated criminal sexual contact, invasion of privacy, and endangering another person, along with a single count of stalking.

These indictments, issued in December, saw Cardella pleading not guilty during his arraignment this week, as reported by the station.

The allegations involve two male tenants who rented rooms in Cardella’s residence, with prosecutors asserting that both were victims of these assaults.

The case came to light in December 2024 when Mansfield Township Police began their investigation after one of the men reported waking up to discover Cardella in bed with him, allegedly holding a mask over his face and engaging in unwanted sexual contact.

When police executed a search warrant at the home, they found a safe in Cardella’s closet containing two bottles of chloroform, prescription sleep medication, medical masks, a camcorder, and digital storage devices.

Police are now investigating to determine if there were other victims. They asked anyone who thinks they may have been assaulted by Cardella to contact Detective Ken Allen at allen@mansfieldpd.org.