SCRANTON — The 38-year-old sheriff's deputy accused of beating his girlfriend is no longer employed by the county, a spokesman said Tuesday.

Jerome Passariello, of Scranton, a county employee since 2005, stopped working for the Lackawanna County Sheriff's Department today, said Joe D'Arienzo, the county's communications director.

He and Sheriff Mark McAndrew refused to comment further.

Passariello is charged with several crimes including aggravated assault and strangulation, both felonies.

He is free on $100,000 bail, awaiting a preliminary hearing scheduled for June 19.

— PETER CAMERON