Princeton Animal Control Officer Had No Criminal Record Before Town Hired Him

PRINCETON, NJ — The Princeton Animal Control Officer who was suspended without pay after being charged with child sexual assault in Pennsylvania had no criminal record and “glowing recommendations” as a strong worker before he was hired by the town in 2015, according to a memo provided to Mayor Liz Lempert by Princeton Police Chief Nicholas Sutter.

Saul Nathan Barson, 29, of Lambertville, underwent an extensive background check prior to his hiring because he was going to have access to the police department during the course of his duties, according to the memo provided to Patch by Lempert on Thursday.

Barson was arrested on Monday, and charged with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexual assault, sexual assault, indecent assault, corruption of minors and criminal use of a communication facility.

He is accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old at the Pat Livezey Park in Solebury Township on Feb. 3.
Barson was named Princeton Animal Control Officer in 2015. He replaced Mark Johnson, who parted ways with the town after it was revealed that 400 rabies vaccines provided to the town by the state were unaccounted for.

His background check showed he had no active warrants and his driver’s license was in good standing, according to the memo.

He was checked through all criminal databases by name and through fingerprinting, and was shown to have no criminal record.

Local records checks were completed for his hometown, as well as other towns in which he previously worked and lived, and was again shown to have no criminal record.

Five references were checked including his employer at the time, Director Bruce Cocuzza, the Lambertville Police Director. These checks revealed, as the report stated, “glowing” recommendations that characterized him as a strong worker.

“In conclusion, the report revealed nothing negative in his work history or criminal history and as such he was cleared through the background phase,” Sutter told Lempert.

Barson has been suspended without pay, with no decision about his employment beyond that having been decided. During his suspension, Montgomery Township is providing Animal Control Services based on an already existing shared services agreement, Lempert said.

Meanwhile, the Princeton Packet reports Barson bailed himself out of Bucks County Prison. His bail had been set at $300,000, 10 percent option bail.

He lives in West Amwell with his adopted parents, according to the report. West Amwell is about four miles from where the alleged crime took place.

The attached image of Nate Barson was provided