Sussex Commissioner William Hayden indicted for falsely claiming veteran's tax exemption
The state Attorney General's Office announced the move on July 15, saying Hayden had filed a tax return in which he claimed a veteran's exemption to which he was not entitled. The fraudulent filing in 2020 saved Hayden approximately $382 in taxes, the office said.
'Our tax system relies on everyone filing a true and accurate tax return,' Attorney General Matthew Platkin said in a statement. 'Fraudulently claiming an exemption reserved for military veterans is something we will not tolerate.'
Asked about the indictment, Hayden responded to the New Jersey Herald via text on Tuesday: "lol." He did not elaborate.
Messages seeking comment from county Commissioner's Director Chris Carney and county Administrator Ron Tappan weren't immediately returned.
Hayden, one of five members of the all-Republican county board, has faced calls to resign ever since accusations surfaced that he falsely claimed in his 2022 campaign to be a wounded veteran who served in the Navy SEALs. In some retellings, he allegedly claimed to have been injured in action against a drug cartel in Africa.
The Branchville resident has denied any wrongdoing but has found himself at odds with the rest of the party. The Sussex County Republican Party mounted a recall effort against Hayden but dropped the effort after failing to secure enough signatures.
Hayden did not seek the the GOP nomination for re-election this year, meaning his tenure as commissioner will end in January, barring a write-in campaign.
The 58-year-old is charged with one third-degree count of filing a fraudulent tax return. The charge carries a potential sentence of three to five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000.
According to the AG's Office, Hayden assisted his wife in preparing the couple's state income tax return for the year ending Dec. 31, 2019. Hayden falsely checked a box indicating he was a veteran, according to Tuesday's statement. "Hayden is not, in fact, a veteran," the AG's Office said. As a result, he received a $6,000 exemption, resulting in the avoidance of about $382 in taxes, Platkin's office said.
More: Sussex GOP drops recall effort against commissioner accused of faking military record
In 2023, a former donor to Hayden's campaign filed a complaint with the New Jersey State Police, alleging the commissioner had violated the state's Stolen Valor Act, which makes it illegal to benefit financially from false claims of a military record.
Separately, U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat whose district includes most of Sussex County, wrote to the state Attorney General that year asking for an investigation into whether Hayden violated New Jersey tax laws by claiming a veteran's exemption.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Sussex County NJ Commissioner indicted for tax fraud
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