Crime & Safety
Morristown Church Sexton Charged With Bribery
Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp announces charges against Maurice Underhill of The Church of the Redeemer.
A sexton from the Church of the Redeemer in Morristown has been arrested and charged with one county each of Bribery, Falsifying or Tampering with Records, Commercial Bribery, and Obstructing Administration of Law or Other Governmental Function, according to the Morris County Prosecutor's office. Maurice Underhill, 53 and of Dover, is described as a sexton and community service coordinator by the church website.
According to the Prosecutor's office, Underhill took money from an individual in exchange for reporting fulfilled community services hours to the Morris County Department of Probation on the individual's behalf. The unnamed individual, according to authorities, did not actually complete any community service hours.
“The investigation commenced as a result of the prompt notification to law enforcement by personnel of the Department of Probation in Morris County," Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp stated.
Find out what's happening in Morristownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Underhill volunteered for the position of community service coordinator for the Church, according to the investigation, and was instructed by authorities to report on and supervise those subjects that would be required by the Department of Probation to complete a community service agreement through the Church. According to the prosecutor's office, Underhill was charged with tracking and keeping accurate records for all subjects assigned to the Church of the Redeemer by the Probation Services Division of the Superior Court, Morris/Sussex Vicinage.
In July of 2016, according to the charges laid upon Underhill by the prosecutor's office, Underhill received payment and then falsely reported completed hours. Underhill was arrested on August 31 and given a bail of $15,000. The defendant made bail on that same date. His first appearance has not yet been set.
Find out what's happening in Morristownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Anyone with information concerning the defendant, or any similar activity, is asked to contact Detective Thomas Primo of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office at (973) 285-6200.
Image via finance, Morguefile, used under Creative Commons.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
