Jury seating area - file photo.
Jury seating area - File Photo.

Clifton man found guilty of luring and attempted sexual assault of children in Morris County

Posted by
1 min read
May 27, 2025

MORRIS COUNTY, N.J. — A jury has convicted a 42-year-old former Clifton resident of multiple sexual offenses involving attempted child exploitation, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office announced Tuesday.

Brian Stewart was found guilty on May 23 after a three-day trial of three counts of second-degree luring, two counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, one count of second-degree attempted endangering, and four counts of second-degree attempted aggravated sexual assault.

The charges stem from a March 2024 investigation launched by Boonton Township Police following a referral involving online child exploitation. Authorities say Stewart engaged in sexual conversations over the internet with individuals he believed to be minors and attempted to lure them to meet for sexual activity.

Judge Robert M. Hanna presided over the trial and scheduled Stewart’s sentencing for July 25. He remains in custody pending that hearing.

No Early Release Act to apply in sentencing

Stewart’s convictions for attempted endangering and attempted aggravated sexual assault are subject to New Jersey’s No Early Release Act, requiring that he serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole.

In addition to prison time, Stewart will be required to register under Megan’s Law and will be subject to Parole Supervision for Life.

The investigation was led by the Boonton Township Police Department in coordination with the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Don't Miss