Former Toms River Township Police Officer Rebecca A. Sayegh was sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to burglary, criminal mischief, and simple assault in connection with a late-night off-duty incident at a Berkeley Township residence.
According to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Sayegh, 32, of Toms River, was sentenced on January 16, 2026, by Superior Court Judge Guy P. Ryan to a three-year probationary term. The sentence followed Sayegh’s November 17, 2025 guilty plea to burglary, criminal mischief, and simple assault.
Judge Ryan also ordered Sayegh to have no contact with the victims and to pay restitution for the damage she caused. As part of the case, Sayegh was required to forfeit her position as a Toms River Township Police Officer effective November 17, 2025, and she forfeited all future public employment in the State of New Jersey.
Incident Began as a Domestic Disturbance Call
The case stemmed from events that occurred on April 25, 2025. The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office said officers from the Berkeley Township Police Department responded at approximately 11:20 p.m. to a residence on Evernhan Avenue for a report of a domestic disturbance.
Responding officers determined that Sayegh, who was off duty at the time, had smashed the front glass door of the residence, entered the home, and assaulted and threatened two victims inside. Authorities also determined that Sayegh damaged the hood of a vehicle belonging to one of the victims that was parked in the driveway.
Sayegh was taken into custody at the scene after resisting efforts to peacefully place her under arrest, according to prosecutors. She was originally served with the charges by summons, but due to the seriousness of the allegations, she was later re-charged by warrant on April 28, 2025.
Charges and Guilty Plea
When the case was first announced, prosecutors said Sayegh had been charged with home invasion burglary, two counts of assault, two counts of criminal mischief, terroristic threats, and resisting arrest. The final guilty plea entered on November 17, 2025 was to burglary, criminal mischief, and simple assault.
At the time of the plea, the State said it would seek 180 days in the Ocean County Jail as a condition of probation, no contact with the victims, and restitution. At sentencing, however, Sayegh received a three-year probationary term, along with the no-contact and restitution requirements.
Related Civil Lawsuit
According to Patch, the victims later filed a civil lawsuit against Sayegh and others connected to the incident. Patch reported that the lawsuit alleges Sayegh attacked her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend, and that the lawsuit also names a former Toms River police dispatcher, a former Berkeley Township police officer, and local police entities.
Those civil allegations are separate from Sayegh’s criminal guilty plea and sentencing. As with any civil case, the allegations in the lawsuit should be treated as claims unless and until they are proven or resolved in court.
Public Trust and Accountability
This case is another example of why public accountability does not stop at the badge. The criminal justice system relies on police officers to enforce the law, protect victims, and respond to domestic violence calls with professionalism. When an officer becomes the person accused of forcing entry into a home, assaulting victims, damaging property, and resisting arrest, the case raises serious questions about judgment, temperament, and trust.
Sayegh is no longer a Toms River Township Police Officer and, under the terms of the case, has forfeited future public employment in New Jersey.
