60 years for N.J. man in sex abuse

A former Burlington County special police officer was sentenced yesterday to 60 years in prison for repeatedly having sex with a young girl.

Thomas Esser, 33, who lived in Edgewater Park and Cherry Hill during the four years the assaults took place, was found guilty in July on 20 counts of aggravated sexual assault and other charges. The delay in sentencing was caused by Esser's refusal to cooperate with a psychiatric assessment, said Superior Court Judge John Almeida.

Esser was a 27-year-old part-time special police officer in Burlington City when the assaults began in 2000, Almeida said. The girl was 10, he said.

Esser recorded one of the assaults on tape on March 11, 2003. It was played during the trial.

Esser's attorney asked for a new trial, but the judge denied the request and cited portions of the testimony to explain why.

The assaults continued until May 11, 2004, when the girl was flown to Puerto Rico to live with her grandmother. Esser must serve 51 years of the sentence before he is eligible for parole. He also must register under the state's Megan's law, and will be subject to lifetime supervision.