Ex-Montco cop draws prison in domestic dispute
NORRISTOWN » Saying a former Conshohocken cop is “not above the law,” a judge sent him to prison for engaging in a pattern of intimidation and harassment against a woman with whom he was involved in an ongoing domestic dispute.
“No one is above the law, especially not someone who is sworn to uphold it,” Montgomery County Judge Risa Vetri Ferman said on
Monday as she sentenced Shawn Rogers Malloy to 2-6 years in a state prison on charges of witness intimidation, obstruction of justice, criminal use of a communication facility and harassment in connection with incidents that occurred between November 2017 and May 2018.
Malloy, who served 17 years as a Conshohocken police officer and was a onetime candidate for New Hanover supervisor, did not react as sheriff’s deputies immediately took him into custody, slapping handcuffs around his wrists. The judge also ordered Malloy, 43, of the 700 block of Hillary Court, East Goshen Township, Chester
“No one is above the law, especially not someone who is sworn to uphold it.”
- Montgomery County Judge Risa Vetri Ferman
County, to complete anger management and domestic violence counseling programs while in prison and wished him “good luck.”
Ferman didn’t dispute testimony from Malloy’s friends and family who said he was a well-respected police officer who received commendations and medals.
“But there is the other Shawn Malloy…who undermined the system he was sworn to uphold. He intimidated or attempted to intimidate a victim of a crime,” said Ferman, adding one of the foundations of the justice system is that witnesses be able to cooperate without the fear of reprisal or harm. “I find this defendant to be a master manipulator.”
As a police officer, Malloy knew or should have known the ramifications of his conduct, Ferman said.
The judge rejected a defense request for a probationary sentence, adding any lesser sentence would depreciate the seriousness of the crime.
A jury that deliberated seven hours convicted Malloy of the charges during a three-day trial last November.
However, that jury acquitted Malloy of a charge of simple assault in connection with an alleged Nov. 21, 2017, encounter he had with the woman outside the All Star Cafe Sports Bar and Restaurant, located at Swamp Pike and Fagleysville Road in New Hanover. During that alleged confrontation, the woman claimed Malloy struck her in the face and poked her in the back with a handcuff key.
Assistant District Attorney Nicholas Beeson sought jail time against Malloy, arguing he was a police officer who knew the system well and used his understanding of the system to intimidate the woman and tried to get the lence. She was 100 percent wrapped up in the cycle of abuse by this man,” Beeson argued. “She’s never going to be able to live her life without fear. That is a burden she will have to carry with her forever.” With the conviction, jurors found that on Dec. 6, 2017, two weeks after the alleged encounter outside the bar, Malloy sent the woman an anonymous text message advising her to check her mailbox. Inside, the woman found an anonymous letter informing her to “remain silent” and urging her to not give any statements. The jury also found that on Jan. 10, 2018, the night before he faced a preliminary hearing on the alleged simple assault charge, Malloy created an email account in the name of a fake lawyer and sent the woman an email which detectives alleged “was structured and worded in such a way as to intimidate the victim into carrying out an action that would sabotage the prosecution’s case” and lead to a withdrawal of the assault charges against Malloy. Beeson characterized that incident as Malloy’s “most desperate moment” and a last ditch effort to make the case go away. During the lengthy investigation, New Hanover Detective Michael Coyle linked the text message and email to Malloy. “The timing of these actions is incredibly telling, immediately prior to critical court proceedings,” Ferman said. “This police officer knew exactly what to say to keep her in fear.” The woman told the judge “the fear is still with me each and every day.” “He often told me he would never get caught. Shawn knew the system. He bragged about all the cops he knew,” the woman said during victim impact testimony. “His behavior was more erratic and my fear intensified.” Malloy, who at the time of the incidents resided in New Hanover, also was an unsuccessful candidate for Malloy, which she obtained on Nov. 24, 2017, according to court papers. Under that court order, Malloy was prohibited from harassing, threatening or having communication with the woman. The woman testified at trial that Malloy told her he was going to drag her life through the court system, adding, “I was fearful of that.” Defense lawyer Nathan Schadler sought a probationary sentence for Malloy charges against him. He was well-respected, hardworking and dedicated to his job. It’s a terrible mistake he’s made,” Schadler argued, challenging Beeson’s suggestion that Malloy used his police knowledge to commit the crimes. “Shawn’s police work should be used as a credit to him.” Schadler argued Malloy lost his job and his pension and will never be able to work in law enforcement again. Malloy most recently worked for a local flooring apologized and said he has sought counseling. He added, “I want to be a better person.” With the harassment conviction, the jury also found that the woman received more than 200 phone calls from blocked and unblocked numbers, which detectives traced to Malloy, between May 1 and May 2, 2018. During the trial, Beeson showed jurors photos of the woman’s swollen lip, a bite mark to her hand and a with the woman outside the bar but he denied assaulting the woman. Malloy implied the injury didn’t occur while the woman was in his presence. At trial, Schadler argued the woman’s alleged injuries did not rise to the level of simple assault and he suggested the woman’s statements were inconsistent with the evidence and that her testimony could not be trusted. Schadler called it a “one-sided police investigation.”