Keansburg Police Officer Admits to Sex Crime

A Keansburg police officer has admitted to a sex crime and is now expected to lose his job, register as a sex offender, and serve a years-long prison term, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey announced Wednesday.

Nicholas Thompson, 25, pleaded guilty to a second-degree charge of Attempted Aggravated Sexual Assault during a hearing yesterday before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Jill G. O’Malley.

An investigation by members of the Prosecutor’s Office revealed that in January 2021, the crime took place at a private residence, when the victim, an adult female, was unconscious and incapable of consent.

Thompson, who was sworn in as a Patrolman in Keansburg last year, was a SLEO (Special Law Enforcement Officer) Type II at the time. He was arrested and charged last October, after which Keansburg Police Chief Wayne Davis announced that he was being suspended without pay pending the outcome of the case.

Thompson’s plea agreement, which was reached after consultation with the victim, calls for permanent forfeiture of public office, registration as a sex offender under Megan’s Law, parole supervision for life, and a sentence of four years in state prison, with 85 percent of the term to be served prior to the possibility of parole under New Jersey’s No Early Release Act.

“Police officers are expected to be held to a higher standard of conduct, on duty and off – and should never bring harm to others,” Acting Prosecutor Linskey said. “We feel that this plea agreement provides justice to our victim and renders the appropriate outcome for an inexcusable act. The actions of this defendant do not reflect the diligent efforts of our county’s law enforcement officers, who safeguard and serve their communities each and every day.”

Sentencing in the case has been scheduled for Thursday, November 10. This case was assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Melanie Falco, Director of the Office’s Professional Responsibilities and Bias Crime Unit. Thompson has been represented by Mitchell Ansell, Esq., with an office in Ocean Township.