New jersey police chief convicted of sexual assault, misconduct

SOMERVILLE, N.J. — Suspended Manville Police Chief Thomas Herbst was convicted Thursday on multiple counts of official misconduct, sexual assault, and related offenses following a three-week trial in Somerset County Superior Court.

A jury found Herbst, 57, of Bridgewater, guilty of four counts of official misconduct, one count of pattern of official misconduct, one count of sexual assault (all second-degree crimes), and one count of criminal sexual contact (a fourth-degree crime). The verdict came after approximately one day of jury deliberations.

Herbst’s charges stem from years of sexually assaultive and inappropriate behavior toward subordinates, both inside and outside the workplace, frequently while on duty. Prosecutors said his misconduct spanned more than a decade, beginning in 2008, and included coercing victims, groping, exposing himself, and committing violent sexual assaults within police headquarters.

In addition to direct assaults, Herbst was convicted of leveraging his authority to solicit sexual favors. Prosecutors said he offered employment benefits in exchange for sex, including demanding oral sex from an officer’s wife for a promotion and requesting explicit photos of another officer’s wife for a schedule change.

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin called the conviction a critical step in holding corrupt officials accountable. “For years, Herbst abused his power and tormented his victims,” he said. “Today’s conviction shows no one is above the law.”

Herbst faces a potential sentence of five to 10 years in prison for each second-degree charge, with mandatory parole ineligibility for the official misconduct convictions. Sentencing is scheduled for April 10, 2025.

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