Borough's DPW chief indicted on charges of sexual assault
SUSSEX A state grand jury on Nov. 16 indicted the chief of the Sussex Borough Department of Public Works after he allegedly attempted to sexually assault someone he thought was a 14-year-old boy he met online, according to New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram. The “boy” was actually an undercover investigator working with the Division of Criminal Justice Computer Analysis and Technology Unit. According to Criminal Justice Director Deborah L. Gramiccioni, Jeffrey Card, 49, of Sussex Borough, was indicted and charged with three counts of second-degree official misconduct, one count of second-degree attempted sexual assault, five counts of third-degree attempted endangering the welfare of a child, five counts of fourth-degree attempted criminal sexual contact and one count of fourth-degree possession of child pornography. The state alleges that on five occasions between February and April 2005 Card communicated with the “boy” on the Internet, including three times when Card allegedly used a computer in his Sussex Borough DPW office. Card allegedly sent online communications in which he directed the “boy” to perform sexual acts on himself. On April 27, 2005, the Division of Criminal Justice executed a search warrant, arrested Card and seized computers from his home and his office. A forensic examination allegedly revealed child pornography on compact disks seized from Card’s office. Card is currently free on $50,000 bail. He declined to comment on the charges when reached by phone at the Sussex Borough DPW on Nov. 19. An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Second-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000 while third-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of five years in state prison and a fine of up to $15,000. Fourth-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of 18 months in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000. A spokeswoman for the Sussex County Superior Court in Newton said Card’s case hadn’t been scheduled yet. Calls to Sussex Borough Mayor Chris Parrott seeking comments on the charges against Mr. Card weren’t returned by deadline.