Handcuffs (Shorebeat File Photo/ banspy/ Flickr)
A Monmouth County corrections officer has been charged with numerous offenses stemming from a sexual relationship with an inmate, prosecutors said Wednesday.
Thomas J. Mauro, 41, of Beachwood, is charged with second degree official misconduct and fourth degree criminal sexual contact. A first appearance in court for Mauro was expected this afternoon.
According to a statement from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, last month, the 31-year-old female inmate from Neptune City was observed entering a bathroom at the correctional facility reserved for the exclusive use of jail staff. Moments later, Mauro followed her into the same bathroom, the statement said.
“While in the bathroom, Mauro engaged in various forms of sexual contact with the inmate before they each exited the bathroom separately,” the statement went on to say.
“Law enforcement officers are sworn to uphold the law in every way,” said Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni. “As a corrections officer, Mr. Mauro exercises supervisory powers over an inmate. The conduct, as alleged, is an exploitative abuse of an officer’s sworn authority and will not be tolerated.
An investigation revealed that Mauro and the woman met during a previous incarceration at the county jail and, beginning in 2013, entered into a sexual relationship while she was not an inmate at the facility. While the relationship ended later in 2013, Mauro is accused of engaging in the charged criminal activity on April 27, 2019 while the woman was once again incarcerated in Monmouth County.
“These type of acts will not be tolerated at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, and, if the allegations are found to be true, the officer will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden. “The safety of the inmates at the correctional facility is of the utmost importance. Any member of law enforcement found guilty of violating the oath they swore to uphold, will be held accountable.”
If convicted of Official Misconduct, Mauro faces a mandatory sentence of five years in a New Jersey state prison without parole, a lifetime ban on public employment in the state of New Jersey, and forfeiture of his benefits. If convicted of criminal sexual contact, Mauro faces up to 18 months in state prison.
“We will continue to hold every law enforcement officer to the highest standards with no distinction between their roles in the system,” Gramiccioni said.
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