By Anthony Attrino
nj.com
NEWARK, N.J. — A corrections officer at the Essex County Jail has filed a discrimination lawsuit claiming a high-ranking supervisor sexually harassed her — giving her compliments, gifts and bundles of cash — before retaliating against her when she refused to have sex with him.
The woman alleges in the suit that Associate Warden Antonio Pires, 48, used his position to “manipulate and coerce” her into a brief sexual relationship and then gave her unfavorable assignments when she ended the relationship.
Eventually, Pires began telling others at the jail that he wanted to fire the woman, the lawsuit said.
“She needs to be buried,” Pires allegedly said, according to the suit filed Tuesday in Superior Court of Essex County.
The suit also accuses another jail supervisor of being “generally aware” of the harassment and of “aiding in the unlawful conduct” by sending the woman to work in “the worst” parts of the jail. “I don’t care about her,” the supervisor allegedly told others.
NJ Advance Media is withholding the name of the woman because she claims to be a victim of sexual harassment.
Pires did not respond this week to a voice message and email sent to him at the jail. The warden, Guy Cirillo, did not immediately return a call and email seeking comment.
Essex County spokesman Anthony Puglisi on Wednesday declined to discuss the case, saying the county does not comment on pending litigation.
In a statement, the woman’s lawyers, Matthew Luber and Tyler J. Burrell, said they commended their client for the courage it took to file a lawsuit.
They believe the woman’s colleagues at the jail will corroborate her allegations. “Our client also looks forward to her day in court,” Burrell said.
The woman began working for the jail on Doremus Avenue in Newark in 2021, and was quickly promoted to a management position, according to the suit.
But when the woman refused to continue a sexual relationship with Pires, she claims she found herself assigned to work in the inmate section of the jail — a less desirable job, the complaint states.
The woman was often moved to inmate areas — known as “custody” — during her regular shift, leaving no one to do her previous management duties, the suit says.
The lawsuit said Pires sent the woman inappropriate text messages that included asking her to send revealing photos.
On June 4, Pires allegedly bet the woman she could not resist laughing at a TikTok video. “You laugh, you have to send a boob pic,” he allegedly texted.
Pires also told the woman’s best friend that he was romantically interested in the woman, but the friend told Pires that the woman was not interested in him, the suit states.
“Pires sought to erode their friendship by claiming (the) best friend was ‘into witchcraft,’ and recommended plaintiff see a Santeria priest,” the lawsuit said. Pires at one point ordered the woman to drive with him “to consult a Santeria priest” about the friend he didn’t like, the suit states.
The lawsuit claims that even though the woman rebuffed his advances, Pires continued to leer at her, and repeatedly commented on her appearance, often calling her “beautiful” and “gorgeous.”
She also claims Pires sent her text messages late at night professing his love. “Today was a productive day,” the supervisor allegedly texted her. “Only thing better would have been if I stayed later and got to see boobs.”
“What if I asked you to marry me with a ring (that costs) 3x my ANNUAL salary,” Pires allegedly texted. “Would you be late to the wedding?”
The lawsuit states that throughout her employment, Pires “flexed his authority” by mixing compliments with threats to her career. “You are getting the boot.” “I’m shipping you off.” “I am kidding,” were three of the alleged texts cited in the complaint.
Pires also tried to give the woman bundles of cash totaling $9,000 so she could buy a used vehicle from a colleague who owned a car dealership, the lawsuit said. The woman said she refused the money.
The suit says that on Valentine’s Day, Pires gave the woman with gifts of flowers, chocolates and a teddy bear, and told her the gifts came “with a catch.”
“Plaintiff grew increasingly concerned regarding her career and safety, as (Pires) psychologically manipulated plaintiff through repeated sexual harassment and advances,” the suit states.
On June 20, the woman emailed her complaints about Pires to the Office of the Inspector General in Essex County, which is responsible for investigating illegal, unethical or improper behavior.
“All of this has caused me a great deal of anxiety, depression, and fear,” the woman wrote. “I’m unable to take it any further and therefore report it to you as my last escape and the hope of survival.”
Luber, the attorney who filed the suit, told NJ Advance Media on Wednesday that an internal investigation began only after he sent Essex County officials a letter threatening to sue on the woman’s behalf.
“There should have been an investigation a long time ago,” Luber said. “It’s too little, too late.”
Earlier this year, the woman went on medical leave. Her medical leave paperwork, included with the suit, states she has been diagnosed with a major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.
In addition to sexual harassment and gender discrimination, the woman alleges a hostile work environment and retaliation. She is suing Pires, another supervisor, several unnamed individuals and county government.
The lawsuit asks a judge to award monetary damages, along with ordering her supervisors to undergo anti-discrimination, anti-retaliation, anti-harassment, work civility and other training.