Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes announced the indictment of Joel Familia, 36, of Lake Hopatcong.
Official say say Passaic County Grand Jury returned and Indictment charging one count of second degree Official Misconduct, in violation of N.J.S. 2C:30-2a, and one count of fourth degree False Reports, in violation of N.J.S. 2C:28-4b(1).
Official Misconduct carries a maximum term of ten (10) years in New Jersey State Prison. False Reports carries a maximum term of eighteen (18) months in New Jersey State Prison.
Officials say it is alleged that on March 22, 2018, the defendant, a Passaic County Sheriff’s Officer, made false statements in a police report and in an affidavit of probable cause.
The defendant was initially charged by way of Complaint-Summons and is not subject to pretrial detention on these charges.