Saratoga County Sheriff Mike Zurlo’s agency arrested one of its own over the weekend, after receiving reports that Deputy Steven Willets sexually abused two young girls under the age of 13 and 11.

“You look at it at face value, it’s just horrible,” Zurlo said during a Monday morning news conference. “The mood throughout the department is shock and somewhat sadness.”

After pleading not guilty to first degree criminal sexual act and second degree course of sexual conduct against a child, Willets was suspended without pay. Ranging from 10 years ago until very recently, investigators say the alleged abuse occurred in Malta where Willets lives.

“I have to commend the victims,” Captain Jeffrey Brown said. “They had strength to come forward to a responsible adult and report what was happening to them.”

Zurlo says Willets, a 12-year veteran of the force, mostly worked the overnight road patrol out of the Halfmoon barracks and was never employed as a school resource or DARE officer, which would’ve brought him in close contact with children.

“He pretty much stayed underneath the radar, and we had no prior incidents with Mr. Willets,” Zurlo said.

Zurlo would not say how Willets knows the two girls, but he stressed their relationship has nothing to do with his role as a sheriff’s deputy, adding the alleged crimes happened while he was off duty.

“This one individual does not reflect the rest of the membership of this department,” Zurlo said. “We have a great department here with a great group of men and women that work on the road, so this should not be a deterrent to them.”

After posting bail, Willets was released from custody at the Saratoga County Jail.