Boonton Man Charged with Sexual Assault of 2 Girls

A 25-year-old Boonton man was arrested Wednesday evening on sexual assault charges for allegedly touching the genitals of a 3-year-old girl and a 6-year-old girl at his home in the town, authorities said.

The defendant, Salvador Diaz, denied touching the 3-year-old girl, but allegedly admitted to police he touched the 6-year-old girl on one occasion in 2010, according to an arrest affidavit signed by Boonton Police Det. Leroy Harris.

Diaz on Wednesday allegedly admitted to touching the 6-year-old girl "in a moment of weakness" and wrote a letter of apology asking for the girl's forgiveness and saying he was only human, according to the affidavit on file with the Morris County Superior Court.

Diaz, who authorities said is in the United States illegally from Ecuador, was being held at the Morris County jail in lieu of $200,000 cash bail, set by Judge Thomas Critchley, according to Capt. Jeffrey Paul, spokesman for Morris County Prosecutor Robert Bianchi.

The affidavit said the alleged victims are not related to each other, but both had visited Diaz's home.

The investigation began after the 3-year-old girl on Monday told someone she had been penetrated with a cotton swab by Diaz at his Boonton home.

Harris and Morris County Prosecutor's Office Det. Carolina Moreno responded on Wednesday to Deirdre’s House, a center in Morristown for children who have been abused, police said. Moreno interviewed the 3-year-old girl, who said Diaz contacted the girl's private area, police said. Police were told Diaz was not responsible for taking care of the girl and would have no reason to touch her in such a manner, the affidavit said.

During the investigation, police received information about Diaz allegedly sexually contacting the 6-year-old girl, according to the affidavit. Another witness told police the 6-year-old girl said in September that Diaz contacted her private area, police said. Moreno interviewed the 6-year-old girl, who said Diaz contacted her private area on two occasions, authorities said. She told police the first occasion was with his hand last August and the second occasion was with his mouth over her clothes in September, according to the affidavit.

Moreno interviewed Diaz in Spanish on Wednesday at the Boonton Police Department. He denied any sexual contact with the 3-year-old girl, but allegedly admitted to touching the 6-year-old once.

Diaz was charged with one count of first-degree aggravated sexual assault in connection with the alleged penetration of the 3-year-old girl with the cotton swab. He also was charged with three counts of sexual assault and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, authorities said.