Former Senior South Woods Corrections Officer Convicted In Inmate Beating
Saturday, July 19, 2025, 2:15 P.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
BRIDGETON, NJ.- On Thursday, following a trial in Cumberland County Superior Court, a 37-year-old former New Jersey State South Woods Prison Senior Corrections Officer was found guilty on charges in connection with the 2017 beating of a prison inmate.
According to Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae, on Thursday, July 17, 2025, a Cumberland County Superior Court jury found Cortlen S. Flax, 37, of Woodbury, New Jersey, guilty of second-degree Official Misconduct; and a disorderly persons offense of Simple Assault.
According To The Evidence Presented At Trial
According to the evidence presented at trial, on February 15, 2017, Flax, who was employed as a Senior Corrections Officer at South Woods State Prison, while on duty, entered a prison cell assigned to Julio Valedz, of Jersey City, New Jersey, who was 61 years old at the time. While speaking with Mr. Valdez, Flax, without cause, struck Mr.Valdez on the left side of his head…