On Jan. 23, Lisa Morton, 41, of Freehold, was sentenced to an aggregate term of five years in New Jersey state prison, with a twoyear period of parole ineligibility, for the third degree crimes of official misconduct, theft, and attempted theft.
In addition, a civil judgment was entered requiring her to pay restitution to the state of New Jersey in the amount of $6,196.95 and an order was signed which provides that as a result of her conviction Morton has forfeited her right to seek future public employment within the state of New Jersey, according to a press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.
The sentence was imposed by N.J. Superior Court Judge James Den Uyl in Ocean County. Morton previously entered a guilty plea to the charges before Den Uyl on Oct. 20, pursuant to a negotiated plea agreement with the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.
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fter the sentence was imposed, Morton’s
attorney, Raymond Santiago, requested that Den Uyl allow Morton to remain free on bail pending an appeal. Den Uyl denied the request. Morton had been free on her own recognizance from the time of her arrest until she was sentenced.
Morton had worked for the Superior Court of New Jersey since Dec. 21, 1987. She most recently held the job title of Supervisor 1, and was assigned to the Finance Division in Ocean Township. In December 2007, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office received information from the Superior Court’s Trial Court Administrator for the Monmouth Vicinage that Morton had been altering checks issued by the Superior Court.
An investigation revealed that altered checks were being deposited into Morton’s personal bank account, and that the stolen funds were being used by Morton to pay certain of her own personal expenses. The investigation revealed that Morton had altered 42 checks, and that 22 of these checks totaling approximately $6,196.95 were cashed. Stop payment orders were issued on the remaining 20 checks, which were valued at approximately $11,280.
Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis A. Valentin said, “Morton significantly breached her duties as a public servant and will now pay a high price for her dishonesty.”
Morton’s employment with the Superior Court was terminated on Dec. 14, 2007.