Officer Accused Of Illegally Running License Plate Number

PLAINFIELD, N.J. (AP) — Authorities say a central New Jersey police officer illegally ran a license plate number through a law enforcement database as a favor to a friend.

Union County prosecutors say 46-year-old Jerald Lee faces a computer theft charge for allegedly making the check in April 2012. He has served with the Plainfield police department for 15 years, but was suspended without pay after being charged this week.

Prosecutors say Lee's friend asked him to check for personal identifying information associated with a license plate number he gave him. They say Lee agreed to the request, ran the plate and passed the information to his friend.

A telephone number for Lee could not be located Saturday. He could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

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