5 Years For Sea Bright Police Officer Who Stalked, Threatened Ex-GF

SEA BRIGHT, NJ — A former Sea Bright police officer was sentenced Friday to five years in state prison for a series of crimes he committed against his ex-girlfriend.

Erich Bennett, 47, is also permanently barred from ever again holding public office in the state of New Jersey. He also has to surrender all of his privately owned firearms, submit to a permanent restraining order barring him from ever again contacting the victim, and pay her nearly $4,800 in restitution.

Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Joseph Oxley sentenced Bennett on Friday, Dec. 8. The ex-girlfriend was present for his sentencing and she read a statement into the record.

During a plea hearing in September, Bennett acknowledged that between October 2022 and January 2023 he engaged in a course of conduct that put the woman in fear, including at one point disabling security cameras outside her home, slashing her tires and keying her car.

He further admitted to driving by her home and threatening her with physical harm, including sexual mutilation, both in person and via a fake social media account. Additionally, Bennett admitted that while on duty with the Sea Bright Police Department, he did unauthorized searches of the victim and four of her friends in law enforcement databases.

Bennett was arrested without incident in late January 2023. He previously pleaded guilty to third-degree computer theft, third-degree criminal mischief, fourth-degree hindering apprehension and fourth-degree stalking.

“Bennett swore an oath to keep the public safe, marking an egregious betrayal of the public’s trust,” said Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago. “We strongly commend the victim’s courage and fortitude in this matter.”

This case was prosecuted by Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Melanie Falco, Director of the MCPO Professional Responsibility Unit. Bennett was represented by Mitchell J. Ansell, Esq., with an office in Ocean Township.