Police Officer Indicted For Moriarty’s Arrest

A grand jury has given credibility to a south Jersey politician's contention that his arrest for drunken driving last year was a set-up by a police officer.

Grand jurors in Gloucester County handed up a 14-count indictment Wednesday accusing Washington Township Police Officer Joseph DiBuonaventura of a list of crimes, including falsifying evidence and false swearing. He could receive decades in prison if he's convicted on all counts.

State Assemblyman Paul Moriarty (D-4) has said since he was arrested in July that he was set up.

The officer was later suspended and charged with a series of crimes.

Moriarty, a Democrat who was once mayor of Washington Township, says the indictment validates his claims that he was wronged.

"I have said from the very first day that this officer abused his power, targeted me, hunted me down, and violated my civil rights. Today I believe these sweeping indictments validate what I've been saying all along," said Moriarty in a statement. "I did nothing wrong that day. I was falsely arrested. My property was seized. My good name was tarnished. I hope now that true justice can take place and my good name restored."

The officer's lawyer, James Lynch, did not immediately return a call.

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