State Grand Jury subpoenas Fairfield

In its May 23, 2014 response to my Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request, Fairfield Township (Cumberland County) provided me with documents that indicate that on January 9, 2014 a State Grand Jury issued a Subpoena Duces Tecum directed to former Township Administrator Leo Selb.  The documents also indicate that on February 10, 2014 then Acting Township Clerk Carla Smith, with the assistance of Attorney George R. Saponaro, Esq. of Mount Holly, provided the New Jersey Attorney General's Office with various financial records, including a general register of all Township checks issued during 2013. 

Also disclosed in response to the OPRA request was a Division of Criminal Justice "Evidence Voucher" dated January 8, 2014 indicating that file containing 4 compact discs, among other records, was retrieved from Acting Clerk Smith by Stacy P. Scott who appears to be employed by the Division of Criminal Justice in the "Corruption/South" Unit.  The "Evidence Voucher" states that the "Case Title" is "Fairfield Mayor Joanne Servais" and that the "Crime" is "Official Misconduct."

All of the documents referred to have been placed on-line here.

There are apparently other records that exist that I do not have.  For example, paragraph 3 of Smith Certification refers to a "Schedule A" that was apparently attached to the Subpoena.  I do not have this document.

I am not sure what all this means, but I am not aware of any charges having been filed against anyone and I remind all readers that simply because an investigation has been undertaken does not mean that anyone is guilty of any criminal wrongdoing.  All people enjoy a presumption of innocence until guilt is admitted or proven.  Nonetheless, I believe that the existence of these documents may be of public interest.