Crime & Safety

Barnegat Fireman's Relief Association Treasurer Arrested On Theft, Drug Charges

From the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office:

Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato announced today the arrest of James Docherty, 41 of Barnegat, NJ on charges of Theft and Possession of CDS.

 On March 11, 2014, the Ocean County Prosecutors Office Special Investigations Unit was notified by President George Heflich Sr. and Vice President Frank B. Gunson of the N.J. State Fireman’s Association that a routine annual audit had identified a possible theft of approximately $100,000 from the Barnegat Fireman’s Relief Association.

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The Barnegat Fireman’s Relief Association is not a part of the Barnegat Fire Department. 

James Docherty, treasurer for the Barnegat Firemen’s Relief Association, provided a year-end report in December of 2013 regarding the Association’s finances.  State Association officers became suspicious of discrepancies between the report and bank records.  The State alleges that Docherty made a total of 45 cash withdrawals at a local Wells Fargo Bank branch, totaling $103,615.56, between January of 2013 and March of 2014 for his own purposes. 

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Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and members of the Barnegat Twp. Police Dept. arrested Docherty at his home in the evening hours of March 17, 2014.  Mr. Docherty was also charged with possession of CDS (Oxycontin and Oxycodone) alleged to have been discovered on his person at the time of his arrest.

Docherty was lodged in Ocean County Jail in default of bail set at $25,000 no 10%.  Det. Brad Franks of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office is the lead Detective on the case. The matter is being handled on behalf of the State by Senior Assistant Prosecutor, Martin Anton.

The media and the public are reminded that criminal charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.


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