Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal today released a report documenting the results of an independent investigation regarding a 2017 sexual assault allegation and its handling by the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office (SCPO) and the New Jersey State Police (NJSP). The report is available for public review on the website of the Attorney General’s Office.

In June 2020, the Attorney General’s Office retained former federal prosecutor Matthew E. Beck to conduct an independent investigation into the role of SCPO and NJSP in handling an allegation that Laura Gallagher, a 33-year-old resident of Sussex County, was sexually assaulted on January 22, 2017, by a high school acquaintance, Ian Schweizer. In conducting his independent investigation, Mr. Beck was granted access to all relevant documents in the possession of NJSP, SCPO, and other government agencies, and interviewed more than 20 individuals.

Attorney General Grewal has authorized the release of the full 101-page report prepared by Mr. Beck following his independent investigation. The document includes only minimal redactions of personally identifying information.

Mr. Beck, who currently serves as chair of the Government & Corporate Investigations Group of Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC, previously served as Chief of the General Crimes Unit at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, where he investigated and supervised a wide range of cases, including those involving sexual misconduct.