In an appellate decision released Tuesday, would allow John Warnock - a sheriff's officer convicted of harassing a woman outside a West Orange night club in 2012 - to keep the job he had with the Essex County Sheriff's Office.
According to court reports, in the early morning hours of Oct. 6, 2012, Warnock - who was not on-duty - allegedly offered to help a woman get home from the West Orange club but instead reportedly threatened her inside his vehicle causing the woman to jump from the moving vehicle in Nutley. Warnock however claimed that the she was never even in his car.
He was initially charged with official
misconduct, criminal restraint, making terroristic threats, coercion and suspended from his job without pay. Warnock was only found guilty of harassment and ordered to pay a $325 fine
Based on the decision and the fact that the petty disorderly persons offense was committed while Warnock was off-duty, it does not appear to directly intervene with the performance of his job or status as a law enforcement officer.