Mercer Prison Guard Indicted For Planting Weapon On Inmate, Cover-Up, AG Says

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — A New Jersey State Prison officer was indicted Thursday on charges that he falsely accused an inmate of possessing a weapon, repeatedly struck him in the head and then filed fabricated official reports to cover up the assault, state authorities said.

Daniel Petoia, 34, of Manahawkin, a senior correctional police officer in Trenton, faces a 12-count indictment returned Thursday by a state grand jury.

The assault occurred Dec. 20, 2024, at New Jersey State Prison on Cass Street in Trenton, Attorney General Jennifer Davenport’s office said.

According to the indictment, Petoia had a sharpened metal object in his possession that he falsely claimed belonged to the inmate before striking the victim multiple times without justification. He continued beating the inmate while he was on the ground, the indictment alleges.

Petoia then filed official reports with the state Department of Corrections falsely accusing the inmate of weapon possession to conceal the attack, according to court papers. Investigators say other evidence gathered during the probe contradicted his account.

"It is critical that corrections officers adhere to the law while performing their difficult, essential work in our criminal justice system," Davenport said. "The State cannot and will not look the other way when incarcerated individuals are assaulted without justification by those who should be upholding and enforcing the law."

OPIA Executive Director Eric L. Gibson said the case represents a fundamental breach of the public trust.

"Those who are incarcerated should not face arbitrary violence committed by correctional officers," Gibson said. "False justifications memorialized in official reports simply cannot be tolerated, especially when crafted to cover up misconduct by public officials."

The indictment includes two counts of second-degree official misconduct, one count each of third-degree aggravated assault and fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, three counts of third-degree tampering with public records, three counts of fourth-degree falsifying or tampering with records, one count of third-degree making false reports to law enforcement, and one count of fourth-degree tampering with physical evidence.

Second-degree convictions carry sentences of five to 10 years in state prison and fines of up to $150,000. Third-degree convictions carry three to five years and fines up to $15,000. Fourth-degree offenses carry up to 18 months and fines up to $10,000.

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