Bedminster Man Charged With Sexually Assaulting Two Children

BEDMINSTER, NJ — A Bedminster man was arrested after police say he sexually assaulted an 8-year-old girl and 7-year-old girl this past weekend, announced Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald.

Marcelo D. Schonhauser, 45, Bedminster was charged on Monday with two counts of second-degree sexual assault by sexual contact, and two counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of a minor, said McDonald along with Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives John W. Fodor, and Bedminster Township Chief of Police Francesco Bernardo.

The arrest was prompted after the Bedminster Township Police Department reported that an 8-year-old girl was sexually assaulted on Saturday, March 4, while attending a social event at a home in Bedminster, according to McDonald.

The child said she was sexually assaulted by Schonhauser on March 4 during an interview with a detective from the Somerset County Sex Crimes/Child Abuse Unit at the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Child Advocacy Center.

An investigation was conducted and on Monday Somerset County and Bedminster Police detectives learned of a second minor victim who also reported being sexually assaulted by Schonhauser.

The second victim, a 7-year-old girl was also interviewed and said she was sexually assaulted by Schonhauser on March 4, while attending the same social event at a Bedminster Township home.

On Monday, March 6, Schonhauser was arrested at his home in Bedminster without incident.

Schonhauser was lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing.

Anyone with information relating to the sexual assaults is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Sex Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100, or the Bedminster Township Police Department at 908-234-0585 or via the STOPit app.

Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports, and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

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