FRENCHTOWN, N.J. — A Frenchtown Animal Control Officer has been charged with official misconduct and theft following a joint investigation by the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office and the Frenchtown Police Department. Carolyn Murphy, 50, of Stockton, New Jersey, faces charges for allegedly refusing to return a dog that had been temporarily placed in her custody.
The charges stem from an incident on April 11, 2024, when Frenchtown police stopped a vehicle driven by Gerardo Martinez, 31, of Green Forrest, Arkansas, for a traffic violation. During the stop, officers discovered Martinez had an active warrant and was transporting an American Bulldog valued at approximately $3,500 on behalf of Kingpin Kennels. Police contacted Animal Control Officer Murphy to take temporary custody of the dog, which was later determined to be owned by Jose A. Rosado, 24, of Gloucester City, New Jersey.
Authorities allege that Murphy refused to return the dog to its rightful owner after taking possession of it. She has been charged with two counts of second-degree official misconduct and one count of third-degree theft.
Murphy is scheduled to appear in Hunterdon County Superior Court on December 9, 2024, for a pre-indictment hearing. She is represented by attorney Salvatore DiFazio, Esq.
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If convicted, Murphy faces potential penalties including five to ten years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $150,000 for each second-degree offense. The third-degree theft charge carries a possible sentence of three to five years in prison and a fine not exceeding $15,000.
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