Buena officer charged with
child sex assault
BUENA – A special police
officer was arrested at work here Friday for alleged on-duty misconduct
involving a 17-year-old girl he sexually assaulted, according to county and
local officials.
Sean R. Griffith, 24, of
Landisville was held in Atlantic County Jail on $100,000 bail, the county
Prosecutor's Office said.
Acting Prosecutor James P.
McClain listed the charges as official misconduct and sexual assault, both
second-degree offenses, and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child.
Giffith has worked here about a
year, according to borough Public Safety Director Daniel Caregnato. He's a
Class II special officer, meaning he was allowed to carry firearms while on
duty.
Griffith was suspended
immediately without pay, pending a Borough Council vote on whether to fire him,
Caregnato said.
The officer was used for patrol
duties, he said.
Caregnato said the Police
Department is not investigating the allegations and the borough has not been
fully briefed by county authorities.
McClain said Griffith
"committed the acts while holding a position of authority and disciplinary
power" over the alleged victim.
Griffith is scheduled to be
arraigned in municipal court on July 10.
In New Jersey, a second-degree
offense carries a potential prison term of five to 10 years. The term for a
third-degree offense is three to five years behind bars.