NJ trooper accused of harassing female drivers forfeits job

TRENTON, N.J. (WTXF) - On Monday, a New Jersey state trooper pleaded guilty to illegally using an FBI database to obtain personal information about a motorist.

The charge stemmed from an investigation that revealed he improperly stopped two female drivers for the purpose of pressuring them to date him.

Trooper Eric Richardson, 32, of Camden, N.J., pleaded guilty to a fourth-degree charge of obtaining personal information from a motor vehicle. Under the plea agreement, the state will recommend that Richardson be sentenced to a term of probation.

Richardson, who must forfeit his position as a state trooper, is permanently barred from public employment in New Jersey. He was ordered not to have any contact with the victims and must pay restitution if the victims require counseling as a result of his conduct.

In pleading guilty, Richardson admitted that he illegally accessed the FBI--Criminal Justice Information Services database in May 2017 on behalf of a friend to do a "driver inquiry" on a woman the friend employed. The friend reportedly wanted to know if her driver history revealed any warrants or drug activity. Prosecutors say Richardson photographed her driver history and texted it to his friend.

Further investigation revealed that Richardson also repeatedly pulled over two women and harassed them about beginning an intimate relationship with him, deactivating the dashboard camera in his car during some of the stops.

Richardson was suspended by the New Jersey State Police after being charged in the case on May 31, 2017.

Richardson is expected to be sentenced on August 3.