Cliffside Park NJ police recently arrested a Rutherford New Jersey man who allegedly committed a sexual assault of a young girl.

According to law enforcement, the 55-year-old suspect sexually abused a 7-year-old girl.

When the victim’s father learned of the alleged sexual abuse, he contacted police in Cliffside Park, New Jersey. Cliffside Park police then notified the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit.

Detectives with the Special Victims Unit began an investigation. They interviewed the victim, who reportedly provided them with details about the sexual activity with the suspect.

Although information and specific details about the alleged crime are scant at this time, Bergen County prosecutors did reveal that the suspect knew the victim.

The suspect has been charged with sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child.

If the suspect is eventually convicted on the sexual assault charges, he could face severe penalties. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2, anyone who commits an act of sexual penetration with a minor under the age of 13 can be charged with first degree aggravated sexual assault. This means that the suspect could potentially be sentenced to as many as 20 years in NJ State Prison.

Sometime after being arrested, the suspect was transported to the Bergen County Jail in Hackensack, New Jersey. He later posted $100,000 bail and secured his release from jail.

While the suspect is out on bail, he has been ordered to not have any contact with the victim in the case.

For further information about this case, see the NJ.com article entitled “Rutherford Man Charged with Sex Assault of 7-Year-Old Girl, Prosecutor Says.”