Long Hill Man Accused of Sexually Assaulting Girl, 9

A 57-year-old Long Hill man has been accused of sexually assaulting a 9-year-old girl on two separate occassions over the past year, the Morris County Prosecutor's Office said Thursday.

Mark Annis has been charged with three counts of sexual assault, one count of attempted sexual assault and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

Annis surrendered at the Long Hill Police Department on Wednesday, the prosecutor's office said. He was ordered to have no contact with the victim, her family or anyone under the age of 16, the prosecutor's office said. Annis surrendered his passport and bail was set at $125,000 with no 10 percent option.

Annis is accused of sexually assaulting the girl in Rockaway Township between Aug. 1, 2011 and Aug. 31, 2011 and again in Long Hill on Dec. 26, 2011, according to arrest complaints.

According to the arrest affidavit on file with the Morris County Courthouse, a "citizen witness" alerted the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office on Dec. 28, 2011 that the girl had been allegedly sexually assaulted by Annis at his Gillette home.

The incident was then referred to the Morris County Prosecutor's Office, the affidavit said.

The victim told police on Dec. 29, 2011 that Annis allegedly sexually assaulted her while she visited his Rockaway Township home when she was 8 years old, the affidavit said.

The victim told police Annis allegedly inappropriately touched her before stopping when her mother called for her, the affidavit said.

The girl also told police that Annis allegedly inappropriately touched her on Dec. 26, 2011 while she was at his home in Long Hill Township, the affidavit said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes Unit at 973-285-6200 or the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Crime Stopper Program at 973-COPCALL.