As social media grows, with new platforms for communication springing up yearly, social media stalking also grows in numbers. Stalking of any kind is not limited to civilians – an Ocean County grand jury has indicted Brick Township police officer Justin Delaney on official misconduct charges for allegedly harassing a former girlfriend via Instagram and Facebook between November 2012 and May 2013.
Delaney, 33, is facing a second degree criminal charge of official misconduct, and stalking, a fourth degree criminal charge . Delaney, an eight year veteran, is currently suspended without pay.
Mr. Delaney is alleged to have published harassing and humiliating messages about the former girlfriend, according to an Ocean County Prosecutor Office spokesperson. Investigators were able to link the posts’ origin social media accounts to an IP address registered to Mr. Delaney, per the indictment. Mr. Delaney is also accused of utilizing a prepaid cellphone to text message and call the victim, leaving harassing and threatening messages.
Delaney could be facing:
- maximum potential sentence for a second degree violation of the official misconduct statute of 10 years in New Jersey state prison with a stipulated period of parole ineligibility of 5 years;
- maximum of 18 months in jail for the stalking charge.
Contact our Monmouth County New Jersey Police Misconduct Lawyers
Contact the Law Offices of Mallon and Tranger if you have any questions about filing a police misconduct claim. We have offices in Freehold and Point Pleasant to serve clients in Ocean or Monmouth counties. Our attorneys can be reached by phone at 732-702-0333 or by contacting us online.