Indicted DPW Chief resigns

SUSSEX — The Sussex Borough DPW Chief who was indicted by a state grand jury last month on charges he attempted to sexually assault someone he thought was a 14-year-old boy he met online has resigned his post on Dec. 1, according to Sussex Borough Attorney John Ursin. 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. The “boy” was actually an undercover investigator working with the Division of Criminal Justice Computer Analysis and Technology Unit. Card allegedly sent online communications in which he directed the “boy” to perform sexual acts on himself. According to Ursin, Card’s resignation will be effective Jan. 10, after he uses up his vacation, sick and personal days. A spokesperson for the Sussex County Superior Court in Newton said Card’s arraignment date has been scheduled for Jan. 4. Sussex Borough officials who were contacted by The Advertiser-News to determine how many years Card worked for Sussex Borough and whether he was entitled to a state pension deferred calls to Ursin. A call to Ursin at the Hackettstown office of law firm Courter, Kobert & Cohen P.C. wasn’t returned before deadline. At the Sussex Borough Council meeting on Dec. 1, Mayor Christian Parrott said he’s in the early stages of exploring the viability of shared DPW services between Sussex Borough and other entities, such as Wantage Township and Sussex County. Parrott pointed out how the “backbone” of the borough’s DPW operations, Harold “Hank” Hotalen, is planning to retire from his position in July. Following Card’s resignation, the borough has three full-time and two part-time DPW workers, including Hotalen. On exploring the possibility of a shared DPW services agreement with another municipality or the county, Parrott said “we’d only do it if it’s a big savings for the borough.”

The charges
Sussex Borough DPW Chief Jeffrey Card 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, according to New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram.