Reginald W. Atkins, a 58-year-old former New Jersey state assemblyman who now serves as a pastor at a Newark church, was arrested on two counts of assault and one count of harassment following an incident in Roselle on Sunday afternoon. All three charges are disorderly persons offenses, the New Jersey equivalent of misdemeanors.
According to NJ.com, the incident occurred around 5 p.m. on Sunday in Roselle, where Atkins spent about 14 years in local government before his time in the state legislature. Atkins was booked into Essex County jail, per municipal court records, and the outlet's report, authored by Jeff Goldman, notes that Roselle police did not immediately respond to a request for additional information.
Atkins currently serves as senior pastor at Greater Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in Newark, a post he assumed after founding and leading Zion Family Worship Center Church in Roselle starting at age 28, according to the Union County Democratic Committee. Neither Atkins nor the church returned phone calls Monday morning, the same report states. He also currently holds the position of Roselle Democratic Committee chair.
A Long Run in Roselle and Trenton Politics
Before his arrest, Atkins was best known as a fixture of Union County politics. He served as Mayor of Roselle Borough from 2020 to 2021, Council President from 2018 to 2019, a Councilman-at-Large starting in 2016, and President of the Roselle Public Schools Board of Education from 2007 to 2016, according to Wikipedia.
He went on to represent New Jersey's 20th Legislative District in the General Assembly from January 2022 to January 2026, a district that covers several Union County municipalities including Elizabeth, Kenilworth, Roselle, and Union Township, per NJ Spotlight News. During his final two years in office, Atkins continued serving in the General Assembly. Upon taking office in January 2022, Atkins was the only ordained clergyman serving in the New Jersey State Legislature, Wikipedia notes.
Atkins opted not to seek re-election in 2025 following the end of New Jersey's traditional county line primary ballot design, Wikipedia states, bringing his four years in Trenton to a close in January.
What the Charges Carry, and What Comes Next
Under New Jersey statute N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(a), simple assault charged as a disorderly persons offense carries a maximum penalty of up to six months in county jail and a fine of up to $1,000, according to Central NJ Lawyers. The harassment count is classified as a petty disorderly persons offense punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a fine of up to $500, per Rubas Law Offices.
In New Jersey, disorderly persons and petty disorderly persons offenses are non-indictable and treated as the equivalent of misdemeanors, according to the NJ Courts framework governing such proceedings. He is scheduled for a virtual court appearance at 10:30 a.m. on November 3.
The charges against Atkins remain allegations at this stage in the proceedings. He is affiliated with the Democratic Party, and no additional details about the circumstances of Sunday's incident had been released as of Monday.
