Appellate court upholds decision that sheriff’s officer convicted of harassment is allowed to hold a public job

NEWARK, NJ — Last week an appellate court upheld a 2014 decision not to strip a sheriff’s officer convicted of harassment of his ability to hold a public job.

The ruling supports Superior Court Judge Mitzy Galis-Menendez’s decision that allows John Warnock — who was found guilty of harassing a woman outside a West Orange night club in 2012, but acquitted of more serious charges related to the incident — to keep the job he held with the Essex County Sheriff’s Office.

“The offense was a petty disorderly persons offense committed while (Warnock) was off-duty,” the appellate decision, which was released last week, stated.

Although Warnock did admit to identifying himself as a police officer to the woman, “the offense was not directly related to the performance of his job and (Warnock’s) status as a law enforcement officer was irrelevant to any of the essential elements of the offense,” the decision stated.

Two years ago, Warnock was acquitted of official misconduct, criminal restraint and making terroristic threats charges in connection to allegations that he had offered to help a woman get home from the West Orange club in the early morning hours of Oct. 6, 2012, but then threatened her inside his car and refused to let her get out.

The woman ultimately jumped from the moving vehicle in Nutley, authorities said. Warnock denied that the woman was ever in his car.

A jury initially could not reach a decision on a coercion charge levied against Warnock in connection to the incident, but the charge was eventually dismissed. Warnock was found guilty of only a harassment charge and ordered to pay a $325 fine.

During the proceedings, Warnock was suspended from his job without pay. He is no longer employed by the Sheriff’s Office, despite this ruling’s decision that he would be allowed.

  Essex County Sheriff’s Office