A former New Jersey mayor who was banned from public office after serving time for corruption has been indicted once more — this time, for breaking a court order that barred him from ever stepping onto the campaign trail again.
Jose “Joey” Torres — the 64-year-old former mayor of Paterson — served more than a year in state prison after he pleaded guilty in 2017 to having municipal workers renovate a family business on the city’s dime, according to The Paterson Press.
After the plea, state courts forbid the longtime Democratic politico from seeking or holding office in the future — an order he blatantly ignored last year when he filed to run for mayor once again.
When the Paterson city clerk rejected his petition, Torres sued, according to a statement from state Attorney General Matthew Platkin.
On Tuesday, state authorities announced that a grand jury had indicted Torres for fourth-degree criminal contempt of court as a result of his failed run.
“It takes remarkable brashness to flout a state court order and then attempt to strong-arm the city clerk, via civil litigation, into allowing an impermissible campaign to proceed,” Platkin said.
“That is bold. And, according to the grand jury, it is also indictable.”
Torres could face another 18 months in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 if found guilty, the AG said.
The infamously corrupt Torres pleaded guilty six years ago to a charge of conspiracy to commit official misconduct after admitting he told city workers to renovate a warehouse his daughter and nephew were leasing for their liquor distribution business, according to The Record.
The workers’ labor was marked as overtime and paid for by Paterson’s taxpayers — a move that landed Torres in front of a judge, who later sentenced him to five years in state prison.
The disgraced mayor was cut loose after 13 months.
After the plea, Torres agreed to a forfeiture order that banned him from ever holding public office or employment in the Garden State. If he broke the agreement, he’d face a contempt charge.
Despite this, Torres submitted nominating petitions to the city clerk last March and sued when the clerk refused to take them.
But a judge chucked his complaint about a month and a half before the city’s May elections.
“How is it in the best interest of the public to allow someone who cannot serve as mayor to run for mayor?” New Jersey Superior Court Judge Thomas Brogan asked during the proceedings.
Others were more succinct — like Edward J. Florio, the attorney who represented the city in the lawsuit.
“Mr. Torres made his bed,” Florio said in March 2022. “He has to sleep in it.”
