Ex-Jail Officer Faces Prison For Threatening To Kill Woman In South Jersey: Prosecutor

BRIDGETON, NJ — A former Cumberland County corrections officer will face prison after threatening to kill a woman if she disclosed their relationship. A jury found Neal J. Armstrong guilty of several offenses Thursday, which could land him a decade behind bars.

Armstrong was convicted of hindering apprehension or prosecution (second-degree), terroristic threats (third-degree), attempted hindering apprehension (third-degree) and simple assault by physical menace (disorderly persons offense). Facing up to 10 years in prison, Armstrong's sentencing is set for Nov. 3.

While a corrections officer at the Cumberland County Jail, Armstrong had an ongoing relationship with a former inmate. In fall 2017, he threatened to kill her if she disclosed to authorities their ongoing relationship and the acts and events — drug use and sexual favors — that occurred at a Millville home, prosecutors said.

During the internal affairs investigation, the Vineland resident contacted a friend in July 2018 for assistance in remotely deleting incriminating messages and data from his cell phone, said the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office (CCPO). Authorities seized Armstrong's phone via court order.

The jail's administration and internal affairs unit fully cooperated with the CCPO's criminal investigation, according to prosecutors.

Armstrong, 35, was acquitted of two other charges in the indictment: possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose (second-degree) and aggravated assault by pointing a firearm (fourth-degree).