Inmate pleads guilty to attempted sexual assault of nurse at N.J. jail

Anthony G. Attrino
nj.com

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — An Atlantic City man pleaded guilty Thursday to attempted sexual assault, admitting he chased a woman around a nurse’s office at the county jail and ripped at her clothes during a medical exam.

Melvin Bishop, 51, was originally arrested May 9, 2023, at the Tropicana Atlantic City Hotel after he refused to leave the casino. Arriving police officers arrested Bishop and found he was in possession of cocaine.

While incarcerated at the Atlantic County Jail in Hamilton Township, Bishop entered the nurse’s office for a medical exam on Nov. 26, 2024.

According to the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, Bishop made sexual advances toward a woman in the office, chased her and ripped at her clothing in an attempt to sexually assault her. The victim hid until law enforcement arrived and arrested Bishop.

Bishop pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted sexual assault and third-degree possession of cocaine.

He faces 10 years in prison and registration as a sex offender when he is sentenced on Feb. 6, 2026, the prosecutor’s office said.

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