A former police chief in Howell Township admitted to lying during a township investigation in order to cover up a sexual affair with one of his employees.

According to Attorney General Matthew Platkin and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability, after an incident that transpired at a work-related event, Howell Township opened a formal investigation into the potential existence of a hostile work environment and sexual harassment within the Howell Township Police Department.

During the plea colloquy, officials say former chief Andrew Kudrick, 50, admitted to falsely denying, during an official interview, the existence of a sexual affair he was involved in with a subordinate employee.

Officials say Kudrick, of Farmingdale, launched an illegitimate internal affairs investigation in late March 2022 that was designed to intimidate a member of the police department who knew about his affair.

Kudrick pled guilty to an accusation charging him with one count of obstructing the administration of law or other governmental function. He entered the plea during a hearing Monday in state Superior Court for Monmouth County in Freehold.

As a result of the plea bargain, Kudrick is now banned from public employment and will face sentencing for probation on July 19.