AG: Suspended NJ Corrections Officer Indicted in Connection with Alleged Aggravated Assault, Filing of False Reports, and Framing of Inmate for Weapon Possession 

TRENTON — Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) today announced that a state grand jury has returned a 12-count indictment against a New Jersey Department of Corrections (DOC) Officer who, as alleged, falsely accused an inmate of possessing a weapon, assaulted the inmate, and filed untrue official reports about what had transpired.

Daniel Petoia, 34, of Manahawkin, New Jersey, a senior correctional police officer, was indicted on March 26, 2026. The indictment includes several counts related to his alleged filing of false reports in the wake of the attack, which occurred on December 20, 2024 at the New Jersey State Prison on Cass Street in Trenton.

“It is critical that corrections officers adhere to the law while performing their difficult, essential work in our criminal justice system,” said Attorney General Davenport. “The State cannot and will not look the other way when incarcerated individuals are assaulted without justification by those who should be upholding and enforcing the law.”

“Those who are incarcerated should not face arbitrary violence committed by correctional officers. There must be accountability when unwarranted physical force is used to assault individuals in the custody of the state. False justifications memorialized in official reports simply cannot be tolerated, especially when crafted to cover up misconduct by public officials,” said Eric L. Gibson, Executive Director of OPIA. “It undermines our system of justice when corrections officers take it upon themselves to impose their own brand of punishment.”

“The New Jersey Department of Corrections maintains a zero-tolerance policy for the abuse, neglect, or mistreatment of those in our care,” said DOC Commissioner Victoria L. Kuhn. “Our officers are entrusted to uphold the law and ensure public safety; any betrayal of that responsibility through criminal conduct is a violation of our core mission and will not be tolerated.”

As alleged in the indictment, the investigation revealed that on December 20, 2024, Petoia was in possession of a sharpened metal object, which he falsely claimed belonged to the inmate, before striking the victim repeatedly without justification. It is alleged that the attack was designed to inflict significant bodily injury: according to the indictment, the defendant struck the inmate several times in the head and continued striking him while he was on the ground.

In the aftermath of the assault, Petoia allegedly provided the New Jersey Department of Corrections with official reports that falsely accused the inmate of weapon possession to cover up the assault he allegedly committed. But according to the indictment, other evidence gathered during the investigation revealed that his description of events was fabricated.

The indictment charges the defendant with a dozen counts comprised of the following:

• Two counts of Official Misconduct (second degree)

• Aggravated Assault (third degree)

• Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (fourth degree)

• Three counts of Tampering with Public Records or Information (third degree)

• Three counts of Falsifying or Tampering with Records (fourth degree)

• Making False Reports to Law Enforcement Authorities (third degree)

• Tampering with Physical Evidence (fourth degree)

Second-degree charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in New Jersey state prison and a fine of up to $150,000. Third-degree charges carry a sentence of three to five years in New Jersey state prison and a fine of up to $15,000. Fourth-degree offenses could lead to up to 18 months in New Jersey state prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

Deputy Attorneys General Robert J. Serrano and Samantha Eaton are prosecuting the case for the Corruption Bureau of the Office of Public Integrity & Accountability, under the supervision of Deputy Bureau Chief Laura Croce, Counsel to the OPIA Executive Director Andrew Wellbrock, Corruption Bureau Director Jeffrey J. Manis, and OPIA Executive Director Eric Gibson.

Defense counsel:

Unknown at this time