Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced today that an officer employed by the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center has been charged with one count of aggravated assault.
Steven McMillon, 30, of Orange has been charged with assaulting a 17-year-old male resident of the facility.
The Essex County Detention Center Internal Affairs Unit referred the investigation to the Essex Prosecutor’s Office after receiving a report that an officer had assaulted a 17-year-old. The officer did not report the Jan. 3, 2011 incident but it was captured on video surveillance cameras.
“Without justification the juvenile detention officer assaulted a 17-year-old who was in custody. He then neglected to report the incident to his supervisors, violating his sworn oath,’’ said Captain Quovella Spruill of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Professional Standards Bureau.
On Jan. 4, 2011, Officer McMillon was suspended from his position. At the time, he had worked for the Essex County Detention for almost five years. McMillon was hired on Oct. 23, 2006. McMillon was formally charged on Friday. He surrendered today. Bail was set at $20,000 by the Honorable Peter V. Ryan, J.S.C.
These are accusations. All defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until they plead guilty or are found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
