James Pitts was suspended without pay after being arrested on charges of aggravated criminal sexual contact and endangering the welfare of a child
A veteran member of the Essex County Sheriff's Office has been charged with sexually abusing an underage girl. (File photo)NEWARK - An award-winning officer with the Essex County Sheriff's Office is suspended without pay after being charged with sexually assaulting a young girl.
James Pitts was arrested on Friday at his home in Montclair, according to Essex County Prosecutor's Office spokeswoman Katherine Carter. The veteran undersheriff is facing six counts of aggravated criminal sexual contact and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
The alleged sex acts date back to March of this year, and took place as recently as last week, Carter said.
Authorities declined to comment on the nature of any relationship between Pitts and the victim.
Sheriff's Office spokesman Kevin Lynch confirmed Pitts was suspended immediately following his arrest but offered no additional comment.
MORE: Sheriff's officer tipped off dealers in drug ring bust, authorities allege
Bond information for Pitts was not immediately available, and there was no record of him having been booked into the Essex County Jail.
In 2012, he was given an award for "overall job performance" for his duties overseeing officers in Essex County Superior Court, as well as the sheriff's security and transportation divisions.
The following year, Pitts' son James Pitts Jr. was charged with robbery and drug conspiracy offenses in connection with the murder of Villanova University student Brian Schiavetti, a Connecticut native who was found dead in a Montclair apartment building in July 2012.
Pitts Jr. eventually pleaded guilty to a drug charge and is expected to be sentenced to 364 days in jail. His co-defendant, Ernest Williams, was convicted of aggravated manslaughter and other charges in connection with the slaying earlier this month.
The Friday arrest marks at least the third time this year an Essex sheriff's officer has found himself on the wrong side of the law.
In March, officer Denis Oliveira was charged with using his badge and gun to force a prostitute into sex. Four months later, Robert Andrews was arrested on suspicion that he tipped off members of a large heroin distribution ring that law enforcement was investigating their dealings.
Both have also been suspended without pay.
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly described the status of the case against James Pitt Jr.
Dan Ivers may be reached at divers@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DanIversNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
