Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp announces that Maurice Underhill, 53, of Dover, has been arrested and charged with one count of bribery, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:27-2d, a crime of the second degree; one count of falsifying or tampering with records, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:21-4a, a crime of the fourth degree; one count of commercial bribery, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:21-10a(1)(d), a crime of the fourth degree; and one count of obstructing administration of law or other governmental function, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:29-1a, a crime of the fourth degree, in relation to his soliciting and receiving money from a person who was ordered to complete court-ordered community service.
The defendant, who was a community service coordinator, agreed that for a monetary fee paid to him, he would report to the Morris County Department of Probation that the subject had completed the community service hours, when, in fact, the hours were not fulfilled.
The investigation revealed that the defendant had volunteered as the community service coordinator for the Church of the Redeemer, located in Morristown.
The defendant was not an employee of the Department of Probation, but acted as an agent. The defendant was instructed that he would have to report and supervise those subjects who were specifically assigned by the Department of Probation to complete a community service agreement by completing community service through the Church of the Redeemer program.
As such the defendant was responsible for the tracking and keeping of accurate records for all subjects assigned to the Church of the Redeemer by the Probation Services Division, Superior Court, Morris/Sussex Vicinage. The defendant was responsible for reporting all community service hours, completed by each respective Probation client, to the Probation Services Division on a month-to-month basis.
In July of 2016, the defendant received payment from the probationer and then falsely reported that the probationer had completed the court-ordered hours of supervision.
The defendant was arrested on August 31, 2016. Bail was set at $15, 000 with a ten percent cash alternative by the Hon. Catherine Enright, J.S.C. The defendant made bail on that same date. The venue of prosecution has been transferred to Passaic County, pursuant to Court Order.
The date of the defendant’s first appearance has not yet been set.
Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp stated, “The investigation commenced as a result of the prompt notification to law enforcement by personnel of the Department of Probation in Morris County. Any questions regarding the status of the community service site, should be directed to the Administrative Office of the Courts.”
Anyone having further information concerning the defendant or any similar activity should contact Det. Thomas Primo of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office at (973) 285-6200.