MORRISTOWN -- A 24-year-old Morristown man was accused today of sexually assaulting a girl, who was between the ages of 9 and 10 years old, in her home

Juan Carlos Villa, a citizen of Ecuador, is charged with aggravated sexual assault, criminal restraint and endangering the welfare of a child, according to an affidavit filed in Superior Court in Morristown.

Superior Court Judge John Dangler set bail at $300,000 and ordered Villa to have no contact with the victim or the victim's family, or any children under age 16.

Villa was living in the basement of the victim's house in Morristown when the assault occurred five years ago, the affidavit said.

The victim, who is now 15, said in a video interview with authorities that Villa sexually assaulted her twice between September 2003 and March 2004. The first time, she was lying on a couch when Villa approached her, held her down and sexually assaulted her, the affidavit said.

The second incident occurred a few months later, when Villa followed her into her bedroom and sexually assaulted her, the affidavit said. He then told the victim not to tell anyone because no one would believe her, the affidavit said.

In a video-recorded interview authorities conducted with Villa, he admitted to sexually assaulting the girl during the first alleged incident, but said he did not remember a second incident, the affidavit said.

Villa was arrested Tuesday by officers from the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Sex Crimes Unit and Morristown police, according to Capt. Jeff Paul, spokesman for Morris County Prosecutor Robert Bianchi.

The investigation was conducted by Detective Kristi Allegretta of the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Sex Crimes Unit, who conducted the video-recorded interviews with both Villa and the victim, and Detective Keith Cregan of the Morristown Police Department, Paul said.

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