Monmouth Jail Guard Gave Phone To Inmate Boyfriend: Prosecutor

FREEHOLD, NJ — A Monmouth County jail guard has been charged with providing a cell phone to an inmate she was romantically involved with, authorities say.

Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago said Latonya C. Johnson, 51, a resident of Piscataway in Middlesex County, is charged with a single count of second-degree knowingly providing an electronic communication device to an inmate.

Johnson was a Sheriff’s Office Correctional Police Office, assigned as a guard to the county jail.

An investigation determined that Johnson brought the cell phone into the jail sometime between May and October 2022, "when she and the inmate were engaged in a romantic relationship, to be able to communicate with him more frequently," the prosecutor's office said in a news release.

“Sworn members of law enforcement are rightfully held to a higher standard of conduct, and when they fall short of that standard, straying into criminal behavior, swift and decisive action becomes imperative,” Santiago said in a news release.

The investigation was conducted by the the prosecutor's office Professional Responsibility & Bias Crime Bureau and assisted by the Monmouth County Correctional Institution Investigations Division.

Johnson was served the charge against her via summons on Monday, Jan. 23, pending a first appearance scheduled for 9 a.m. on March 7 in Monmouth County Superior Court.

“All members of the law enforcement profession have a sworn duty to exhibit the highest level of professionalism with honor and integrity as they protect and serve. Any conduct that does not meet that expectation will not be tolerated,” Sheriff Shaun Golden said.

He added that he is "proud of the correctional police officers who tirelessly serve this agency. An officer who violates his or her oath of office does a grave disservice to their co-workers, as well as the entire law enforcement profession, and will be held accountable with proper disciplinary action taken.”

This case is being prosecuted by Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Melanie Falco, Director of the MCPO Professional Responsibility & Bias Crime Bureau. Johnson is being represented by Patrick J. Caserta of Wayne.