Morris Co. Man Masturbated In Front Of Child: Affidavit

Warning: This article contains graphic sexual details.

LYNDHURST, NJ — A Morris County man was charged Tuesday with sexually assaulting a 5-year-old girl. Amit Bhatt asked the young girl to spit on his hand and then masturbated in front of her in a car outside of a Lyndhurst restaurant, according to the affidavit.

The child's father allowed Bhatt — his best friend — to take his daughter to lunch and buy her a gift on Dec. 23, the affidavit says. After getting food at Mr. Bruno's Pizzeria, Bhatt and the child sat in the car, according to authorities.

The Denville man asked her for her "drool," according to police documents. She spat in his hand from the back seat, and he pulled down his pants and began masturbating in front of her, the affidavit says.

Bhatt, who the girl knows as "Uncle Mark," then took her to Walmart in Kearny to purchase two gifts for her, according to police. Then he dropped her off at home, court documents say.

Lyndhurst police contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office on Jan. 11 for a report of an alleged sexual assault of a child. As a result of the investigation, Bhatt was charged with second-degree sexual assault by sexual contact and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child.

He was arrested Tuesday in Parsippany. Officials remanded him to the Bergen County Jail, pending his first court appearance.

Bhatt works as an accountant, according to the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office.

The Morris County Prosecutor's Office and the Parsippany Police Department also contributed to the investigation.

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