Contact: Beth Stone (508) 584-8120
BROCKTON – The former town health agent in Rockland has admitted to facts sufficient for a guilty finding on charges that she forged certificates of inspection for 11 Rockland restaurants, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz has announced.
In Plymouth Superior Court late yesterday afternoon, Judge C.J. Moriarty continued the case without a finding for two years against Janice R. McCarthy (DOB: 7-17-61) of Abington.
McCarthy was charged with three counts each of Forgery of a Document, Uttering a False Writing, and False Written Report by a Public Employee, for the 11 establishments that were affected after an investigation. McCarthy was ordered not to work for any government agency, and to pay $5,500 court costs. The Commonwealth requested that McCarthy serve two years in the House of Correction with six months to be served, the balance suspended for 2 years.
McCarthy was employed as the Town of Rockland Health Agent, and as part of her duties, she was responsible for regular health inspections of food establishments in town. The investigation began when town administrators became aware of issues including, the validity of signatures on some of the reports submitted by McCarthy following a public records request. The investigation by Rockland Police found that McCarthy produced a number of forged certificates. The investigation found no evidence that McCarthy acted with the knowledge or at the behest of any of the establishments. McCarthy resigned as a result of the investigation.
A grand jury indicted McCarthy on December 18, 2018. Assistant District Attorney Russ Eonas prosecuted the case, which was investigated by Rockland Police Department.