MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll and Chief of Detectives Robert McNally confirmed that Melissa Rivera, 60, of Haskell, has been charged with theft in connection to her former role as bookkeeper at Roman Catholic parishes in Washington Township and Pompton Plains.
A referral made to the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Financial Crimes Unit alleged that between May 2018 and January 2024, Rivera stole approximately $192,000 while employed as a bookkeeper at Our Lady of the Mountain Parish in Washington Township (Morris County) by writing herself numerous checks from parish accounts.
During the investigation, it was discovered that between May 2018 and May 2024, Rivera was allegedly creating checks at Our Lady of the Mountain and Our Lady of Good Council parishes, both located within Morris County, while employed as a bookkeeper. Rivera then allegedly deposited the checks into her accounts, which created a total loss of $292,728.
On March 27, 2025, Rivera was charged with to one count of Theft, a crime of the second degree
in violation of 2C:20-3A; one count of Theft, a crime of the third degree in violation of 2C:20-3A; two counts of Computer Criminal Activity, a crime of the second degree in violation of 2C:20-25C; and two counts of Forgery, a crime of the fourth degree in violation of 2C:21-1A(2). She was charged by summons and released pending future court proceedings.
Prosecutor Carroll would like to thank the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Financial Crimes Unit for its efforts in obtaining the arrest in this case.
