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Carolyn Murphy, the Frenchtown Animal Control Officer, had been asked to take temporary custody of an American bulldog on April 11, Hunterdon County Prosecutor Renée M. Robeson said.
The dog had been seized from an Arkansas man who'd been transporting him for Kingpin Kennels, a breeder, after police stopped him for a traffic violation and found he'd been wanted on a warrant. The dog was valued at $3,500 and was owned by a man in Gloucester City.
Murphy later refused to return the dog to the owner, authorities said.
She was charged with two counts of official misconduct and one count of theft. A hearing is scheduled for December, authorities said.
Murphy's attorney did not respond to an immediate request for comment. This story will be updated if/when they do respond.
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