Child Sex Assault, Exploitation Reported In Bergen County, Teen Charged: Cops

PARAMUS, NJ — An Alabama teenager who was previously arrested in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a child in Paramus was hit with two additional charges on Tuesday related to the sexual exploitation of a child, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said.

Elijah Hutchens, 19, was accused in May of sexually assaulting a child younger than 16 on more than one occasion, and storing an "unsecured firearm" within reach of the child, the prosecutor's office said.

He is now being accused of causing the child to engage in a sexual act while recording it, the prosecutor's office said.

Hutchens, of Huntsville, was charged earlier this year with second-degree sexual assault, third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, fourth-degree criminal sexual contact, and a disorderly persons offense for having a firearm a minor is likely to gain access to, the prosecutor's office said.

He was additionally charged this week with first-degree manufacturing of child pornography and third-degree possession of child pornography. He was served with the new charges while already in custody at the Bergen County Jail and remains held pending his first court appearance, the prosecutor's office said.