Borough inspector says contractor offered a bribe

A Flemington man allegedly offered the borough’s electrical subcode official money to inspect electrical work.

By: Donna Lukiw
   Kevin A. Curtis, 40, of Flemington, was charged with third-degree bribery on Nov. 16 after police said he offered the borough’s electrical subcode official money to inspect electrical work.
   At 5:31 p.m. Nov. 14, Barry Wilbur, the subcode official, reported that Mr. Curtis, an electrical contractor, offered to pay him to perform an inspection Mr. Wilbur had refused to do.
   According to police, Mr. Wilbur was inspecting an apartment building on West Camplain Road after Mr. Curtis completed electrical work.
   Somerset County Prosecutor Wayne Forrest said Mr. Curtis bribed Mr. Wilbur for purposes of getting a favorable inspection.
   According to Mr. Forrest, Mr. Wilbur never completed a full inspection.
   Police said Mr. Curtis then retrieved an undisclosed amount of money from his wallet and offered it to Mr. Wilbur but Mr. Wilbur refused to take the money and reported the bribe to the police instead.
   Mr. Forrest said the Prosecutor’s Office is not disclosing the amount of the bribe at this time.
   Mr. Curtis was processed in police headquarters and transported to Somerset County Jail with bail to be set.