Prosecutor: County Corrections Officer Pleads Guilty to Shoplifting

A Monmouth County Corrections officer has pleaded guilty to shoplifting in Ocean Township and West Long Branch, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey announced.

Suzanne Simone, 53, of Ocean Township, a 22-year-veteran of the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, pleaded guilty on Monday to fourth-degree shoplifting in connection with multiple instances in which she failed to pay for items at local Target and Home Depot stores.

Simone’s plea calls for her to pay restitution to both stores in a total amount of $1,320.90. Simone has also forfeited public office in New Jersey. She will receive non-custodial probation and is not allowed to return to either store.

This follows an investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office which revealed that on multiple occasions Simone “skip scanned” items, essentially scanning multiple smaller items, and not scanning larger items or pretending to scan them and leaving the store without paying for them. In multiple instances, Simone was wearing her uniform while committing the theft. Some of the stolen goods were later recovered from her residence.

Simone is currently suspended from her position at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 24 at 9 a.m.

— Edited press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office