Morris Plains Man Found Guilty Of Sexually Assaulting 8-Year-Old

MORRIS PLAINS, NJ — A jury found a Morris Plains resident guilty on all charges Friday relating to his sexual assault of a child in Parsippany.

Amit Bhatt, 43, faces several decades in prison.

The charges arose from a 2017 incident in which Bhatt sexually assaulted and inappropriately touched an 8-year-old, the Morris County Prosecutor's Office said. While in custody earlier this month, Bhatt was also charged with possession of child pornography.

• Read more: Child Porn Charges Filed Against Morris Plains Inmate

In Friday's verdict, the jury found Bhatt guilty of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, second-degree sexual assault and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child. His sentencing is set for March 17.

The Morris Plains resident faces 25 years to life in prison. He must serve at least 25 years before parole eligibility on the aggravated sexual assault conviction. Bhatt, 43, will remain in custody until the sentencing.

Parsippany and Morris County authorities began an investigation into the incident in January 2022, after the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office alerted them of the victim's disclosure.

Bergen County authorities charged Bhatt on Jan. 6 with third-degree possession of child pornography. Bhatt was served the charge while in custody at the Morris County Jail.