Haddon Township commissioner pleads guilty to unlawfully accepting a referral fee

A Haddon commissioner pleaded guilty Wednesday to unlawfully accepting a referral fee from a law firm in connection with a lawsuit against the township.

Officials say he referred a township police officer to the firm for purposes of suing the township, despite the clear conflict of interest involving his position as commissioner.

Dougherty, 48, of Haddon Township, an attorney who also serves as municipal prosecutor in several towns in Camden and Burlington counties, pleaded guilty to an accusation charging him with third-degree conspiracy to confer an unlawful benefit on a public official.

Under the plea agreement, the state will recommend that Dougherty be sentenced to a term of probation. As a result of the plea, Dougherty forfeited his position as a township commissioner and is permanently barred from public office and public employment in New Jersey. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 14.

Read more: https://www.trentonian.com/news/crime/haddon-township-commissioner-pleads-guilty-to-unlawfully-accepting-a-referral/article_fac559e2-d24b-11e8-8bb8-a3788e70d223.html