Sgt. Edward Giles, 59, who is the youth football director of the East Orange Police Athletic League, was charged with multiple counts of aggravated sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child and criminal sexual contact in Union County Superior Court.
As a veteran sexual crimes defense attorney I still am saddened when a 30 year veteran of a police department is charged with a criminal sex offense.
It is alleged that several of the assaults took place in Giles’ home in Roselle.
Giles, an officer for 30 years, was coaching the East Orange Wildcats when he assaulted one of the boys from 1998 into 2000 when the boy was between the ages of 11 to 13, the Union County prosecutor’s office said. The other boy was assaulted from 2002 into 2003, when he was between 12 and 13 years old, authorities said.
“This defendant took advantage of his position of trust in the community as a means to victimize children,” Union County Prosecutor Lyndsay Ruotolo said in statement. “We believe that there are likely additional victims yet to be identified, and we are urging anyone with information to come forward and help bring him to justice.”
Giles was arrested at his home Friday following a seven-month investigation and sent to the Union County jail. He made a first appearance in court on Sunday and is scheduled for a detention hearing on Thursday.
As a experienced criminal defense attorney I hope everyone remembers that Officer Giles is presumed innocent until or unless he is found guilty. If you are charged with a sex crime you should contact one of our sex crimes defense attorneys immediately.
