Clark Mayor Salvatore Bonaccorso is facing serious criminal charges, including official misconduct, for allegedly using township property and employees to run his personal landscaping business, as well as filing forged permit applications in multiple towns to remove underground oil storage tanks. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to five years in state prison. Attorney General Matt Platkin announced the charges, stating that any elected leader who betrays the public's trust will be held accountable.

According to Platkin, Mayor Bonaccorso also stands accused of operating a tank removal business out of his office, further breaching the public's trust. Moreover, it is alleged that he manipulated officials in other towns by submitting fraudulent documents with forged signatures, all in an effort to enrich his company while evading state regulations set by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

In addition to the charges against Mayor Bonaccorso, Attorney General Platkin released a damning report that uncovers misconduct within the Clark Township administration. The report recommends the dismissal of Police Chief Pedro Matos and Sgt. Josep Teston, the internal affairs officer, due to their involvement in using racist, sexist, and anti-Semitic language. The investigation also revealed that Chief Matos had lied to investigators.

The report further revealed a troubling statistic regarding racial disparities in arrests. Despite 93% of Clark Township's residents being white, the investigation found that 44% of those arrested were Black. Though criminal charges are not being pursued, the report will be forwarded to the state's Division of Civil Rights for further action.

Attorney General Platkin's office also referred Township Attorney Mark Dugan to the Office of Attorney Ethics, citing his involvement in the alleged misconduct.

It is worth noting that in July 2020, the attorney general's office and the Union County Prosecutor took over the local police department. This step was taken in response to the escalating concerns and allegations of impropriety within the department.

Platkin emphasized the importance of leaders upholding their duty to serve the public interest and treat all individuals with respect and dignity. He stated that the leaders within the Clark Police Department and the township as a whole had failed to meet these basic expectations.

The charges against Mayor Bonaccorso include tampering with public records and witness tampering. Thomas Eicher, the director of the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability, asserted that these allegations reveal a pattern of criminal behavior spanning several years. Eicher further underscored that the trust of the people in their government is eroded when public officials engage in improper actions. He vowed that his office would continue diligently working to root out corruption.

The charges against Mayor Bonaccorso, coupled with the allegations of misconduct within the police department, have sent shockwaves through the community of Clark. As the legal process unfolds, residents and authorities alike will be closely monitoring the developments to ensure transparency, accountability, and justice for all involved.