East Brunswick Prison Guard Charged In Assault At NJ Prison

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — A prison guard who lives in East Brunswick is among two correctional officers recently charged with seriously injuring female inmates at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women.

The New Jersey Attorney General said that a total of 10 correctional officers were charged in the ongoing investigation into the alleged abuse at the women's prison.

Eddie Molia, 42, of East Brunswick has been charged with Official Misconduct (two counts, 2nd degree) and Tampering with Public Records or Information (3rd degree), the AG’s office said.

According to authorities, on Jan. 12, at around 12:07 a.m., a five-person suited team of correction officers from EMCF performed a forced cell extraction for a female inmate.

Molina was the supervising corrections officer present for the extraction when the inmate was pepper-sprayed and was not given an opportunity to comply before the team entered her cell, said authorities.

The AG’s office said the extraction team used excessive and unreasonable force, resulting in injury.

Authorities said Molina failed to intervene and prevent the use of force.

Molina later sent an email to other DOC officers and employees that falsely reported what occurred during the forced cell extraction. the AG's office said.

Authorities said Molina did not reveal that pepper spray was used without giving the inmate an opportunity to comply, that unnecessary and unreasonable force was used and that the victim suffered injuries.

“When we first announced charges in this criminal investigation, I promised that we would follow the evidence wherever it leads and charge everyone responsible for these unjustified, brutal attacks. That is exactly what we are doing,” said Attorney General Grewal.

“Our investigation continues to produce results, as these charges demonstrate, and we are far from done.”

“The alleged actions of the defendants during these heinous attacks on inmates were completely unconscionable— whether they inflicted harm or stood by and allowed others to do so when they had a duty to intervene,” said OPIA Director Thomas Eicher.

Eicher urged anyone with information to call 1-844-OPIA-TIPS.

The AG is specifically looking at what happened between 10:30 p.m. on Jan. 11 and 1:15 a.m. on Jan. 12, when officers at the women's prison performed forced cell extractions of 21 inmates.

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