Major discipline · 2025[1]
TerminatedSuspended 445 days- Rank as reported
- Officer
- Sustained charge(s)
- (a)(6) ; (a)(7) ; (a)(12) ; Criminal charge; N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4 Endangering Welfare of Children N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4(b)(4) - 2nd Degree N.J.S.A. 2C: 14-9(b) – 3rd Degree Invasion of Privacy (a)(12) ; Violation of Department Policies and Procedures – Immediate suspension pending criminal charges.
- Separated while IA pending
- No
Plain-language summary (this site, from the cited record only)
Correctional Police Officer Brian Sargent was both suspended for 445 days and terminated by the Essex County Department of Corrections, with termination finalized in 2025. Sargent was arrested off duty at his home on March 9, 2023 and charged with endangering the welfare of a child and invasion of privacy following an investigation by the Union County Prosecutor's Office involving nude photographs and videos. He was convicted of endangering and received a three-year prison term.
Synopsis as reported by the agency
On March 9, 2023, off-duty correctional police officer Brian Sargent was arrested at his home and charged under multiple New Jersey statutes, including endangering the welfare of a child and invasion of privacy. The charges stemmed from an investigation by the Union County Prosecutor’s Office involving nude photographs and videos on Sargent’s laptop. The adult victim said the images and videos were taken without consent and spanned a period of time when the victim was a child. Following his arrest, Officer Sargent was immediately suspended from his position with the Essex County Department of Corrections. Officer Sargent was ultimately convicted of 2c:24-4A(1) endangering - sexual conduct with child by caretaker and received a three (3) year prison term. Termination was finalized in 2025.