MAYS LANDING, N.J. — An Atlantic City man was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in state prison for attempting to sexually assault a nurse while he was being held at the Atlantic County Justice Facility.
Melvin Bishop, 52, was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Joseph Levin after previously pleading guilty to second-degree attempted sexual assault and third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office.
Bishop must serve 85% of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole under New Jersey’s No Early Release Act.
He will also be required to register as a sex offender under Megan’s Law and will be subject to parole supervision for life.
The attempted sexual assault occurred Nov. 26, 2024, while Bishop was detained at the Atlantic County Justice Facility in Hamilton Township.
According to prosecutors, Bishop entered a nurse’s office for a medical examination and began making sexual advances toward the nurse.
Authorities said Bishop then chased the woman and ripped at her clothing while attempting to sexually assault her.
The nurse was able to hide until law enforcement officers arrived and arrested Bishop, prosecutors said.
The drug charge stemmed from a separate incident at Tropicana Atlantic City on May 9, 2023.
Atlantic City police were called to the casino for a report of a defiant trespasser identified as Bishop. Officers arrested him and discovered that he was in possession of cocaine, according to prosecutors.
Bishop pleaded guilty to the attempted sexual assault and drug charges on Oct. 23, 2025.
Assistant Atlantic County Prosecutor Brooke Melissa Hoffner represented the state.
