Former Plainfield Police Sergeant Sentenced For Criminal Sexual Contact And Official Misconduct Charges

Former Plainfield police sergeant Samuel Woody, 44, has been sentenced to six years in state prison for falsely accusing a city woman with crimes in order to coerce her into performing sexual acts two years ago.

According to the Union County Prosecutors Office, as the 27-year-old woman was leaving Plainfield police headquarters Woody, a 12-year veteran of the Plainfield Police force at the time, told her he wanted to meet with her later.

Still in full police uniform, Woody met the woman in an outdoor lot on Madison Avenue where he proceeded to threaten her with a five year prison sentence in order to coerce her into removing some of her clothes as he preformed a sexual act on himself.

The charges brought against the woman were later dropped, as there was no probable cause for her arrest.

Woody was arrested in January of 2012, suspended without pay during the investigation, and later found guilty on charges of second-degree official misconduct and fourth-degree criminal sexual contact.

He must serve at least five years of his six-year sentence before being considered for parole and is barred from ever again holding public office in the state of New Jersey.