Bars from a prison jail cast a shadow on the floro.
Bars from a prison jail cast a shadow on the floro.

Former Rockland corrections officer sentenced for misconduct and record tampering

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1 min read
December 20, 2024

NEW CITY, N.Y. — A former corrections officer with the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office has been sentenced to five years probation after pleading guilty to felony tampering with public records and misdemeanor official misconduct. The charges stem from incidents in which he falsified jail records and exposed himself to a female inmate during his employment in 2019.

John Kezek, 39, of Knoxville, Tennessee, formerly of Florida, N.Y., was sentenced Thursday before Judge Robert J. Prisco in Rockland County Court. As part of the sentence, Kezek will be subject to drug and alcohol conditions and a protective order issued on behalf of the victim.

Kezek admitted to falsifying official records maintained by the Rockland County Correctional Facility and engaging in inappropriate behavior, including exposing himself to an inmate under his supervision. The investigation was conducted by the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office Special Investigations Unit and Special Victims Unit.

Rockland County District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II condemned Kezek’s actions, saying, “The defendant, John Kezek, was given the trust and authority to protect all prisoners in the jail. The courage of these incarcerated women who came forward to report this sexual harassment cannot be understated. The mistreatment of prisoners will not be tolerated in Rockland County.”

Walsh also praised the professionalism of the Rockland County Corrections Division, emphasizing that Kezek’s actions did not reflect the values or dedication of its officers.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

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