Electrical Inspector Charged With Accepting Bribes

A former South Jersey electrical code inspector has been charged for allegedly accepting bribes from electrical contractors in exchange for favors on the job.

Mitchell B. Perkins, 67, of Stafford Township, N.J., was formerly employed as an electrical sub-code official/electrical inspector for Lakewood Township.

The favors were "in the form of scheduling and conducting inspections more quickly or, in at least one instance, approving work that was not actually inspected."

The Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau obtained a state grand jury indictment at the end of June charging Perkins with one count of bribery (2nd degree), two counts of official misconduct (2nd degree), two counts of acceptance or receipt of an unlawful benefit by a public servant for official behavior (2nd degree), and one count of pattern of official misconduct (2nd degree). 

It is alleged that, between May 1, 2015 and Sept. 30, 2015, Perkins accepted four separate payments of $300 from an electrical contractor, who was working as a witness for the State Police at the time.

The contractor requested that Perkins inspect his work more quickly and he would be paid off accordingly. He said that Perkins returned the first payment, but he allegedly kept the three later payments.

It is also alleged that, after the first payment, Perkins, who previously was continuously delaying the inspections of the contractor’s works sites, began to conduct inspections of his work sites almost immediately after.

On one occasion, Perkins allegedly approved electrical work performed by the contractor without first inspecting the work. 

Afterwards, Perkins allegedly accepted the fourth $300 payment," said the acting Attorney General Porrino.

In connection with those four alleged payments, Perkins is charged with bribery, official misconduct, and acceptance or receipt of an unlawful benefit by a public servant for official behavior. 

He is charged with a second count of official misconduct and a second count of acceptance or receipt of an unlawful benefit by a public servant for official behavior based on multiple instances dating back to 1997 when he allegedly accepted other payments from contractors to influence the performance of his work as an electrical sub-code official and inspector for Lakewood Township. 

The charge of pattern of official misconduct relates to that conduct as well as the conduct involving the cooperating witness in 2015.