A New Jersey Department of Corrections officer was indicted on March 26 for allegedly assaulting an inmate, filing false reports, and framing the inmate for weapon possession, according to Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability.
The indictment of Daniel Petoia, a senior correctional police officer from Manahawkin, comes after an incident at New Jersey State Prison in Trenton on December 20, 2024. The case raises concerns about accountability within correctional facilities and highlights efforts to uphold legal standards among law enforcement officers.
Attorney General Davenport said, “It is critical that corrections officers adhere to the law while performing their difficult, essential work in our criminal justice system. The State cannot and will not look the other way when incarcerated individuals are assaulted without justification by those who should be upholding and enforcing the law.” Eric L. Gibson, Executive Director of OPIA, added: “Those who are incarcerated should not face arbitrary violence committed by correctional officers. There must be accountability when unwarranted physical force is used to assault individuals in the custody of the state. False justifications memorialized in official reports simply cannot be tolerated, especially when crafted to cover up misconduct by public officials. It undermines our system of justice when corrections officers take it upon themselves to impose their own brand of punishment.” Victoria L. Kuhn, Commissioner of DOC said: “The New Jersey Department of Corrections maintains a zero-tolerance policy for the abuse, neglect or mistreatment of those in our care. Our officers are entrusted to uphold the law and ensure public safety; any betrayal of that responsibility through criminal conduct is a violation of our core mission and will not be tolerated.”
According to investigators cited in the indictment, Petoia allegedly possessed a sharpened metal object which he claimed belonged to an inmate before striking him multiple times without justification—including blows while the victim was on the ground—in what authorities describe as an attempt to inflict significant bodily injury. He then reportedly filed official reports falsely accusing the inmate as part of covering up his actions.
Petoia faces twelve counts including two counts of official misconduct (second degree), aggravated assault (third degree), unlawful possession of a weapon (fourth degree), three counts each related to tampering with records or information (third/fourth degree), making false reports (third degree), and tampering with physical evidence (fourth degree). Second-degree charges can result in five-to-ten years imprisonment with fines up to $150,000; third-degree charges carry three-to-five years imprisonment with fines up to $15,000; fourth-degree offenses could lead up to eighteen months imprisonment with fines reaching $10,000.
The prosecution team includes Deputy Attorneys General Robert J. Serrano and Samantha Eaton under supervision from officials at OPIA’s Corruption Bureau.
According to the official website, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin aims both to protect residents’ lives/property statewide through enforcement/legal support services across all counties/municipalities—and influences public safety via oversight roles throughout New Jersey’s legal system.
The agency also provides state legal representation alongside consumer protection initiatives such as crime lab support/victim advocacy programs according to its statutory mandate.
