A United States Postal Service mail carrier admitted Thursday that he discarded nearly 2,000 pieces of mail, including 99 general election ballots, into New Jersey dumpsters last fall, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced.
Nicholas Beauchene, 26, of Kearny, pleaded guilty in Newark federal court to one count of desertion of mails after he was charged with dumping the bundles of mail in dumpsters in North Arlington and West Orange on Sept. 28, Oct. 1, and Oct. 2, 2020.
He faces a maximum of one year in prison for the misdemeanor conviction. His sentencing date has not been set.
According to the criminal complaint, 1,875 pieces of mail, including 99 general election ballots destined for residents in West Orange and hundreds of campaign flyers for local elections, were recovered from dumpsters by authorities quickly after Beauchene discarded the mail. Authorities said it was then placed back into the mail stream for delivery.
In his first appearance in federal court after being charged in October, assistant U.S. Attorney Sara F. Merin said Beauchene gave a statement admitting he discarded the mail. However, the prosecutor said there was no evidence at the time indicating that Beauchene’s actions were politically motivated.
Beauchene’s attorney concurred that it was not politically motivated, but declined to comment further.
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