Paterson mayor, officials plead not guilty to corruption charges

PATERSON — Mayor Jose "Joey" Torres and three city officials pleaded not guilty to corruption charges they are facing on Monday.

Torres continues to serve as mayor and has said he will not resign despite the charges. He declined comment after the hearing.

The mayor and the public works officials are charged with conspiring to have city employees work overtime at a private warehouse leased by the mayor's family. They face numerous counts, including official misconduct and theft.

According to NJ.com the prosecution proposed several plea offers during Monday's hearing. Torres was offered five years in prison and the forfeiture of his position and any future public employment and pay restitution in exchange for pleading guilty to second-degree conspiracy to commit official msiconduct.

The three other defendants, according to NJ.com were offered probation and forfeiture of their positions and any future public employment, and would also have to pay restitution in exchange for pleading guilty to third degree conspiracy.

Torres won his first term in 2002 as a Democrat and was re-elected in 2006. He lost another re-election bid in 2010 but won the office again in 2014, running as an independent.

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