He was suspended from his $43,175-a-year-job.
TRENTON -- A state child welfare caseworker faces official misconduct charges for abusing his position to have sex with a woman who was trying to get her son returned from foster care, Acting Attorney General Christopher Porrino announced Thursday.
Lamont King, 39, of Trenton, was charged Wednesday with official misconduct and suspended without pay from his job with the state Department of Children and Families, according to the announcement. Public records say he earns $43,175 and has worked for the state since 2008.
Investigators allege King was driving the woman to a court-ordered, supervised visit with her son in March when he said, "if she trusted him, he could make the visits go well and could recommend that the visits occur at a park or restaurant rather than a state office," Porrino's statement said.
The victim told investigators she understood King could have a say on if and when her son would be returned to her custody, the statement said.
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During one of the visits, King told the victim he wanted to have sex with her, and after returning the boy back to the foster home, drove her to a secluded area where he kissed and groped her, Porrino said.
"The victim told detectives that she was upset and angry, but did not resist because she feared she would not be believed if she reported King, and she believed that King could have an impact on her ability to regain custody of her son," the statement said.
After the next visit, King allegedly took her to motel in Pennsylvania, where they had sex.
She canceled the next two visits with her son to avoid King, then asked a female caseworker to transport her. She reported her allegations to her caseworker in May. The allegations were investigated by New Jersey State Police Official Corruption Bureau South Unit and the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau, according to the announcement.
"The Code of Ethics of the Department of Children and Families, to which all employees must adhere, prohibits department employees from establishing any improper relationship with a person who is being supervised or served as a client of the department," according to Porrino's statement.
If convicted, he faces a minimum of five years in prison and a $150,000 fine, the statement said.
Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.