TRENTON
– Attorney General Paula T. Dow and
Criminal Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor
announced that a Madison Borough police
officer was arrested today on charges he
exposed himself using a Webcam to an undercover
detective he believed was a 13-year-old
girl.
According to Director Taylor, James N. Haspel,
49, of Chatham, N.J., was arrested by the
New Jersey State Police on his way to work
this morning. He was charged by complaint
warrant with official misconduct (2nd degree),
attempting to endanger the welfare of a
child (3rd degree), and attempting to transmit
obscene materials to a person under 16 years
old (3rd degree). Haspel holds the rank
of detective and has been employed by the
Madison Borough Police Department for 25
years.
The complaint alleges that between December
2009 and May 2010, Haspel, on more than
one occasion, transmitted Webcam videos
of himself with his genitals exposed to
a person he believed to be a 13-year-old
girl. In fact, the person was an undercover
detective. Haspel is charged with official
misconduct because he allegedly sent such
videos from a hotel in Columbus, Ohio, where
he was attending a training conference for
the police department, and because he allegedly
communicated with the “girl”
while on duty at police headquarters using
a computer supplied by the borough for official
police business.
“This police officer took an oath
to uphold the law and protect people,”
said Attorney General Dow. “We charge
that he betrayed that oath in a shocking
manner by exposing himself to someone he
believed to be a young girl.”
“This defendant is charged with official
misconduct because he allegedly engaged
in the illicit computer communications while
on official duty and in training as a police
officer,” said Director Taylor. “We
have no tolerance for government officials
who abuse their office and violate the public
trust.”
The
second-degree official misconduct charge
carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in
state prison, including a mandatory minimum
period of five years of parole ineligibility.
Third-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence
of five years in prison. If convicted of
the attempted child endangerment charge,
the defendant would be subject to registration
as a sex offender under Megan’s Law.
The
charges in the criminal complaint are merely
accusations and the defendant is presumed
innocent until proven guilty. Because indictable
offenses are charged, the charges and allegations
will be presented to a grand jury for potential
indictment.
Haspel
was lodged in the Hunterdon County Jail.
Superior Court Judge Pedro J. Jimenez Jr.
in Mercer County signed the warrant and
set bail at $75,000.
The
charges are the result of an investigation
by the New Jersey State Police and the Division
of Criminal Justice. The investigation was
conducted and coordinated by Detective Gregory
Godish and Detective Michelle Goncalves
of the State Police Digital Technology Investigations
Unit, and Deputy Attorney General Kenneth
Sharpe of the Division of Criminal Justice
Computer Analysis and Technology Unit.
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