By: Richard L. Smith
A lieutenant in the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, who is also the grandson of longtime serving Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura, is under investigation for an alleged domestic violence incident involving two women.
The case, first confirmed by Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Fennelly of the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, is now being handled by the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office due to a conflict of interest.
Upon being notified of the charges, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office immediately suspended Lt. Fontoura. The matter has been transferred to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office. Any further questions should be directed to that office,” Fennelly told RLS Media
Lieutenant David Fontoura faces multiple criminal charges following accusations that he assaulted two women, one of whom is an active Sheriff's officer while the other is a law enforcement official with the Essex County Prosecutor's Office.
Sources familiar with the investigation, speaking anonymously to RLS Media, revealed that Lt. Fontoura allegedly held a gun to the Sheriff Officer victim's head and pressed a kitchen knife against her neck during the violent encounter. He was taken into custody by Nutley Police.
According to the sources, Lt. Fontoura allegedly used his familial connections to Sheriff Fontoura to further intimidate the Sheriff Officer by influencing her job reassignment from a court officer to the ballistics office.
Although not officially confirmed by authorities, these details have raised significant concerns within the local law enforcement community.
The Essex County Prosecutor's Office suspended Lt. Fontoura immediately upon learning of the charges.
Chief Fennelly referred all further inquiries to the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office, which has not yet responded to a request for comment.
As of early Tuesday morning, no further information has been provided, and it remains unclear what type of abuse the ECPO law enforcement employee experienced.
The investigation continues, with the public awaiting more information on the case and its implications for Essex County law enforcement.
UPDATE 8:29 am: *Correction: An earlier version of this article mistakenly stated that the case was under review by the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office. It has since been corrected to reflect that the case is under the review of the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office. We apologize for the error.*