🏛 Convicted NJ mayor faces new criminal charge

❌ After prison, ex-mayor tried to run again for office

🚨 For ignoring terms of plea, Joey Torres faces more prison

A mayor convicted of misconduct is facing a new criminal charge — after he tried to run for re-election after getting out of prison.

Ex-Paterson Mayor Jose “Joey” Torres was sentenced to five years in 2017, after admitting to illegally using city workers who were on the clock to instead help with a family business out of a private warehouse.

As part of his plea deal on a count of conspiracy to commit official misconduct, Torres was permanently barred from public office and public employment in New Jersey.

Paterson City hall (Google Maps)
Paterson City hall (Google Maps)
loading...

Despite those terms, the 64-year-old Torres launched a new bid to become Paterson’s mayor in 2022.

In February of last year, he made a public speech, asking the crowd in attendance to help “return him to City Hall.”

Torres went to the Paterson City Clerk’s Office the following month with a stack of purported nominating petitions.

Google Maps, Townsquare Media)
Google Maps, Townsquare Media)
loading...

After they were rejected by the clerk, Torres still didn’t quit — filing a civil action seeking to compel the clerk’s office to accept the petitions.

AG: Torres showed ‘remarkable brashness’

A state grand jury in Trenton on Tuesday voted to file a criminal contempt-of-court charge against Torres.

If convicted of the charge, Torres could face up to another 18 months in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

Matt Platkin
AP
loading...

“It takes remarkable brashness to flout a state court order and then attempt to strong-arm the city clerk, via civil litigation, into allowing an impermissible campaign to proceed,” state Attorney General Matthew Platkin said in a written release.

He continued “That is bold. And, according to the grand jury, it is also indictable.”

LOOK: Do you know these 50 famous acronyms?

This list from Stacker features a collection of the most common acronyms and their meanings. Popular abbreviations include establishments like ACLU, YMCA, ad the AARP.

These are the best NJ high schools for sports

Stacker put together a list of the best high schools for sports across New Jersey — using data from Niche that included sports championships, family surveys, student enrollment, athletic participation rate and sports options. Here's the top 25.

LOOK: 20 of the biggest insects in the world

Stacker compiled a list of 20 of the biggest insects in the world using a variety of news, scientific, and other sources.

LOOK: Famous actors from New Jersey

Stacker compiled a list of famous actors born in New Jersey from IMDb.

More From New Jersey 101.5 FM