POMPTON LAKES, NJ – Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes announces the entry of a guilty plea in the matter of The State of New Jersey v. Mark Stinnard. Mr. Stinnard, 37-years-old from Pompton Lakes, New Jersey, pleaded guilty to third-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child for causing harm to a child before the Honorable Marybel Mercado-Ramirez, J.S.C.
In exchange for his guilty plea, at the time of sentencing, the State will recommend a five-year probationary period during which Stinnard would be mandated to attend sex offender specific therapy, there shall be no contact with the victim, and the defendant shall forfeit his current public employment and will be prohibited from holding public employment in the future.
On Monday, April 23, 2018, the Riverdale Police Department received a report of a minor who had been sexually involved with a police officer from the Pompton Lakes Police Department. It was determined that the offenses occurred in Passaic County, and as a result the Sexual Investigations Unit of Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office conducted the investigation.
The resulting investigation revealed that Stinnard, a Pompton Lakes Police Officer, was having a sexual relationship with a child under the age of 18 and that in the course of their relationship he would request that the child take nude photos and videos and send them to him.
It was also determined that the sexual relationship occurred during Stinnard’s personal time and did not touch upon his employment as a police officer. During his plea allocution, Stinnard admitted under oath to engaging in a sexual relationship with the victim who was under 18-years-old at the time, and that they also exchanged explicit naked photos of each other. Mr. Stinnard’s sentencing date has been scheduled for January 21, 2022 before the Honorable Marybel Mercado-Ramirez, J.S.C. The State is represented by Senior Assistant Prosecutor Anneris V. Hernandez, and Mr. Stinnard is represented by Anthony Iacullo, Esq.