A Rockaway Township man entered a guilty plea on sexual assault charges for a sexual offense he committed more than a decade ago.

According to the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, the 51-year-old suspect engaged in sex with a 12-year-old boy during the summer of 2002. The sex crimes reportedly involved oral sex and occurred at a residence in Boonton Township NJ, where the suspect was staying with the victim’s family.

The victim did not come forward to authorities until 2013. The subsequent investigation eventually resulted in the arrest of the suspect, who was charged with first degree aggravated sexual assault and second degree sexual assault.

Although a trial was on the verge of being held in Morris County Superior Court in Morristown, the suspect reached a plea deal with the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office before the trial began.

The suspect, who formerly lived in Boonton Township, NJ, faced up to 20 years in New Jersey State Prison if convicted at trial. Instead, he is set to be sentenced to 12 years behind bars. Moreover, under the terms of the No Early Release Act (NERA), the suspect will not be eligible to be released on parole until he has served a minimum of 85 percent of his sentence.

The suspect will also have to register as a sex offender under Megan’s Law when he is finally released from prison.

For additional information about this case, access the DailyRecord.com article, “Boonton Man Admits to Sexually Assaulting 12-Year-Old.”