West Orange Restaurant Owner to be Sentenced Next Week

The owner of Halligan's Public House in West Orange, Thomas Halligan, will be sentenced next Thursday after pleading guilty to juvenile-related charges.

Halligan, 50, pleaded guilty to sexually touching a juvenile and giving a juvenile drugs in January before Hon. Judge Joseph Isabella, according to Katherine Carter, spokeswoman for the Essex County Prosecutor's Office.

She said the sexual contact between Halligan and a 15-year-old boy occurred between April 2010 and April 2011.

Brooke M. Barnett, Halligan's attorney, said the charges were two fourth degree charges that included doing drugs in front of a minor and engaging in inappropriate physical contact with a minor.

Burnett said when sentenced, Halligan could face up to 364 days in jail.

The restaurant owner was arrested with his wife, Lorraine Murphy, last May after a joint investigation by the West Orange Police Department and the prosecutor's office.

Murphy, who was charged with drug possession, will have her charges dismissed as part of the plea deal once Halligan is sentenced, Carter said.

Halligan will appear before Judge Sherry Hutchins-Henderson April 19.