MORRIS TOWNSHIP, NJ (Morris County) – A Morris County Juvenile Detention Center officer resigned from her position Tuesday after allegedly using excessive force on duty.
Katria Thorne – Stevenson, pled guilty before the Honorable Catherine Enright, J.S.C., to simple assault, Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp and Morris County Department of Human Services Director Jennifer Carpinteri announced Tuesday.
The plea arose from an investigation into a claim that Thorne-Stevenson, who was a Juvenile Detention Officer at the Morris County Juvenile Detention Center, used excessive force during the course of duty. The County and Juvenile Detention Center fully cooperated with the investigation, Knapp said.
The investigation revealed that on November 5, 2016, Thorne-Stevenson, while attempting to physically restrain a juvenile who was then detained at the Morris County Juvenile Detention Center, struck the juvenile in the face with a closed fist, in excess of the force needed to accomplish any lawful purpose, Knapp said.
“The juvenile was handcuffed at the time and there was no justifiable need for force to be used at that point,” Knapp said. “The juvenile received physical injury, to wit, a bruise and swelling to her lip.”
Thorne-Stevenson surrendered to the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday. As part of the plea agreement, the defendant agreed to immediately resign her position with the County of Morris and is barred from seeking any future law enforcement, juvenile corrections or adult corrections position in the State of New Jersey. The sentencing date is scheduled for April 28, Knapp said.
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By: Jay Edwards Follow on Twitter | Like on Facebook
(Morris County Juvenile Detention Center)