Corrections Officer Sentenced After Sexual Contact With Inmate

FREEHOLD, NJ – A correctional officer at Monmouth County Correctional Institution was sentenced to two years of probation on Tuesday, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office. Correctional officer Thomas J. Mauro of Beachwood was sentenced after admitting to having engaged in sexual contact with an inmate at the Freehold institution.

An investigation found that Mauro and the victim, a 31-year-old female inmate from Neptune City, had a prior relationship in 2013 before the woman was an inmate at the facility. According to the Prosecutor's Office, the female inmate entered a bathroom at the correctional facility reserved for corrections staff on April 27, 2019, followed by Mauro. The two engaged in sexual contact before exiting the bathroom separately.

Prosecutors argued that Mauro, 42, should be incarcerated for 180 days in jail. Instead, it was agreed that the officer would serve the jail term if he were to violate his probation. Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Vincent N. Falcetano, Jr. ordered the Beachwood resident to maintain full time employment, obtain substance abuse and mental health evaluations and attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings as part of the terms of his probation.

Mauro was also ordered to permanently resign from his $106,000 a year position, which the officer has held for 13 years, according to NJ.com. Previously, the court prohibited Mauro from holding public office in the future when he pleaded guilty to fourth-degree criminal sexual contact in May.

“Let this serve as a warning to every officer: violating your oath does harm to your fellow officers, the inmates, and public,” said Sheriff Shaun Golden in a statement. “Any officer violating that oath will be held fully accountable for their conduct. I’m proud of the corrections officers who diligently serve this agency, and no one will tarnish that reputation.”

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