Mercer Times

TRENTON — Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) announced today the indictment of a Vineland Police Department sergeant for allegedly misusing his authority to obtain child sexual exploitation and abuse material.

The indicted officer, Christopher Ortiz, 39, from Estell Manor, New Jersey, faces charges including endangering the welfare of a child, official misconduct, and tampering with public records. The charges stem from Ortiz's alleged mishandling of evidence for personal use, specifically digital images depicting child sexual abuse from a case under investigation by the Vineland Police Department.

According to Attorney General Platkin, "The allegations in this indictment are deeply troubling. Any time an officer allegedly abuses his position and misappropriates evidence, it’s a dishonor to the profession and a betrayal of the community’s trust." He further added, "Given the nature of the evidence involved in this case, it is particularly disturbing."

OPIA Executive Director Thomas J. Eicher expressed concerns about the implications of a police officer possessing such material, stating, "Possessing this type of material is a crime, and when the suspect is a police officer, it raises serious public safety concerns."

Ortiz has been suspended without pay since March 2023, following his initial charges. The case, which was initiated based on a tip from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, is being prosecuted by OPIA Deputy Attorney General Niccole L. Sandora and Assistant Prosecutor Joseph Remy of the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office.

The seriousness of the charges is reflected in the potential penalties Ortiz faces. Second-degree charges could result in a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000, while third-degree charges carry a sentence of three to five years in New Jersey state prison and a fine of up to $15,000.