Brooklyn Court Officer Indicted For Forcing Woman To Perform Sex Act In Courthouse Stairwell

Brooklyn Court Officer Indicted For Forcing Woman To Perform Sex Act In Courthouse Stairwell
A judge’s gavel. (Photo: Joe Gratz / Flickr)

Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced today that a Brooklyn Court Officer has been indicted for official misconduct and other charges for forcing a woman to perform a sexual act on him in a Criminal Court public stairwell last year.

On October 21, 2016, the 25-year-old victim was at Brooklyn Criminal Court at 120 Schermerhorn Street waiting to bail out her boyfriend. While sitting in a hallway, she was approached by 58-year-old Sergeant Timothy Nolan who was on duty and in uniform, according to the investigation.

Nolan led the victim to a public stairwell and allegedly said to her, “I got you,” and “I will take care of you,” before exposing himself and asking for a sexual act,  investigators report.

The victim said she believed if she complied, the defendant would help with her boyfriend’s case, or “adversely impact his case if she didn’t.” Nolan allegedly grabbed the victim by the hair, fondled her, and attempted to kiss her as she performed the sex act on him, investigators say.

Nolan was arraigned on Monday, August 21 on an indictment in which he is charged with official misconduct, second-degree coercion, and public lewdness. He was released without bail and ordered to return to court on October 4, 2017. He faces up to a year in jail if convicted.

“What this defendant – a public servant – allegedly did was a disgrace to his fellow court officers who day in and day out serve the public with respect and work hard to keep our courthouses safe.” Gonzalez said.

“He allegedly abused his authority to exploit a young woman who needed assistance in order to gratify himself. Such conduct will not be tolerated and we will now seek to hold him accountable for this despicable act.”