A New Jersey State Police trooper was arrested Thursday on charges he received a sexually-explicit photo of a 5-year-old girl from the child’s mother, who suggested he should sexually assault the child, the state Office of the Attorney General said.

Jeffrey Reitz, 47, of Williamstown, faces a third-degree charge of possessing child pornography and has been suspended from the State Police, authorities said.

Reitz had an email exchange with the woman on Dec. 31, 2014, during which she suggested he sexually assault her daughter, authorities said.

He asked for a photo of the girl, saying he wanted to see if it would get him sexually aroused, according to his criminal complaint. After receiving the photo, he responded with one word: “Nice,” authorities said.

He also sent the woman photos of his genitals before and after the woman sent the image of the girl, authorities said.

Reitz’s involvement in the email exchange was discovered as a result of evidence seized in a separate investigation by the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, authorities said.

The woman pleaded guilty to permitting a child to engage in pornography and was sentenced to seven years in prison. A search of her cellphone revealed the emails to Reitz, authorities said in the complaint.

The trooper, who is assigned to the State Police’s Commercial Carrier Safety Inspection Unit, is currently jailed at the Salem County Correctional Facility.

Reitz’s attorney, Stuart Alterman, said his client is a 15-year veteran with the state police and has served “without incident.”

“I met with my client today. He is going to be entering a plea of not guilty and he should be released very shortly,” Alterman said Thursday afternoon. “We will take whatever necessary steps in order to have him exonerated and restored to his position.”

The trooper’s current salary is $95,198, according to state records.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips.

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