Former Manville Police Chief Thomas Herbst has been sentenced to seven years in New Jersey state prison after being convicted of sexual assault and official misconduct involving several subordinates. The sentencing was announced by Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA).
New Jersey Superior Court Judge Peter J. Tober, presiding in Somerset County, ordered that Herbst must serve 85 percent of his sentence—approximately six years—for the sexual assault charge, and a mandatory minimum of five years for official misconduct before he is eligible for parole. The sentences will run concurrently. Upon release, Herbst will be subject to lifetime parole supervision and must register as a sex offender under Megan’s Law. He was taken into custody immediately following the hearing.
Herbst, 57, of Bridgewater, New Jersey, was found guilty in February 2025 after a three-week trial on multiple counts including official misconduct, pattern of official misconduct, sexual assault (all second-degree crimes), and criminal sexual contact (fourth degree).
“The defendant’s abuse of power inflicted lasting damage to his victims’ lives,” said Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin. “Today’s sentence brings some measure of justice to the victims and the community. My office will continue to work to bolster public confidence in government, to ensure the safety of all, and to combat sexual offenses in all forms.”
“Anyone who would abuse their office for sexual gratification and to commit sexual assault will be prosecuted, convicted, and sentenced to prison, as this case shows,” said Drew Skinner, Executive Director of the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability.
Trial evidence showed that at least three women were victimized by Herbst over a period starting in 2008. He groped, exposed himself to, and sexually harassed one police department employee before escalating his conduct over 13 years to include sexual assault while both were on duty; many incidents occurred at police headquarters.
The jury also found that Herbst abused his authority by soliciting sexual favors from a subordinate officer’s wife during 2016-2017 in exchange for favorable employment decisions—including demanding oral sex for a promotion—and by requesting explicit photos from another subordinate’s wife for a schedule change.
The investigation was conducted jointly by OPIA and the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office.
The prosecution team included OPIA Deputy Corruption Bureau Chief Marian Galietta with Deputy Attorneys General Niccole L. Sandora and Diana Bibb; Assistant Attorney General Andrew Wellbrock provided assistance under Bureau Co-Directors Jeffrey J. Manis and Eric Gibson along with OPIA Executive Director Skinner.
James Wronko served as defense counsel.
