South Jersey Ex-Police Chief Accused Of Strangling Victim Will Avoid Prison

Editor's note: Victims of domestic violence and those who may be at risk can view their county's resources, call the New Jersey hotline at 1-800-572-SAFE (7233), or contact the national domestic-violence hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). For emergencies, call 911.

GLOUCESTER COUNTY, NJ — A former South Jersey police chief accused of choking and threatening to kill a woman will avoid prison time, according to court documents.

A plea deal will place Franklin S. Brown, Jr. in state probationary program for one year, according to an agreement reached in September. Brown had been charged with aggravated assault and terroristic threats following an April 2021 domestic-violence incident in Clayton, according to a criminal complaint.

Brown was Glassboro's police chief for two years before retiring in 2019. At the time of the incident, Brown was serving as Woodbury's city administrator and as a Clayton Borough Council member. He resigned from both positions when he was charged.

According to the complaint, Brown threw the victim to the ground and got on top of her. He then strangled the victim and said, "I'm going to fucking kill you."

When police arrived, the victim had a knot on the back of her head and minor redness around her neck, the affidavit states. She denied an ambulance.

Under the agreement, Brown pleaded guilty to terroristic threats but will get the aggravated assault charge dismissed. He will enter one year of Pretrial Intervention (PTI) — a state initiative that allows first-time offenders to get their charges dismissed if they successfully complete the program under the supervision of probation officers.

Brown must follow a firearms-surrender order, which will be vacated if he successfully completes the PTI. He also agreed to forfeit any public employment.

Both of Brown's charges were third-degree offenses, which could have carried prison sentences of 3-5 years each.

Transparency NJ first reported the plea agreement.