DA: State trooper sacrifices career, faces prison time over $50 bribe

Robert Forrest, 61, of Stoneham, was indicted this week along with two alleged accomplices in a scheme to certify a non-existent crashed-up vehicle as roadworthy.

Forrest, relieved of duty last summer following a sting operation by fellow troopers, was charged by a Suffolk County grand jury with accepting a $50 bribe from Bernaldo Hernandez of Lynn and Kenneth Lafauci of Topsfield in his role as an inspector for the State Police Salvage Title Section, which is supposed to ensure damaged vehicles have been repaired safely and without the use of stolen parts. According to a statement from the Suffolk County District Attorney's office:

Lafauci and Hernandez allegedly paid Forrest to sign and approve the mandatory Salvage Inspection Forms for salvaged vehicles that may or may not have been brought to the garage. Forrest allegedly signed off on the paperwork without performing the inspection. Because the vehicles went uninspected, they could be released to the road with serious – and possibly dangerous – defects.

DA Dan Conley added:

From the evidence we've seen, Mr. Forrest sold his badge and sold it cheap. There's a reason these cars need to be inspected, and that’s to protect the public at large. Not doing so puts unsuspecting drivers and pedestrians at risk. If theis behavior isn't a violation of the public trust, I don’t know what is.

Forrest was indicted on evidence compiled by fellow state troopers in a 2009 sting operation in which they say they gave Hernandez $1,000 in exchange for getting official certification for a vehicle that did not, in fact, exist. Hernandez allegedly kept half for himself and gave $450 to Lafauci, owner of Brother's Auto Body in Revere, and $50 to Forrest.

Innocent, etc.