WOODBRIDGE — Natalie Barone, a former top state psychologist fired for an alleged affair with a sex offender patient, won’t be practicing psychology in Pennsylvania. After surrendering her psychology license in New Jersey in August, she agreed to an indefinite suspension of her license in Pennsylvania earlier this month. Barone had obtained a license there two days before being...
Natalie Barone, left, and Michael Bordo.WOODBRIDGE — Natalie Barone, a former top state psychologist fired for an alleged affair with a sex offender patient, won’t be practicing psychology in Pennsylvania.
After surrendering her psychology license in New Jersey in August, she agreed to an indefinite suspension of her license in Pennsylvania earlier this month.
Barone had obtained a license there two days before being fired on April 30 from her job overseeing therapy for New Jersey’s more than 400 civilly committed sex offenders.
But when her firing led to an inquiry by the New Jersey State Board of Psychological Examiners, the Pennsylvania Board of Psychology also moved to suspend her license.
In a consent agreement between Pennsylvania and Barone, the state has indefinitely suspended her license but will allow her to reapply for it after one year. The agreement was finalized Sept. 20.
While working for the New Jersey Department of Human Services at an Avenel facility, Barone provided one-on-one counseling to civilly committed sex offender Michael Bordo.
They allegedly started an affair after he was released last year. An internal investigation began when an off-duty corrections officer spotted Barone and Bordo walking down a Jersey Shore boardwalk, according to three state officials with knowledge of the case.
Bordo was arrested in August 2009 on charges of marijuana possession and driving without a valid license. The charges were dropped, but he has been re-committed at the Avenel facility.
Barone’s attorney, Jack Furlong, said she’s still appealing her firing.
“I don’t think she intends to return to New Jersey. But she does need an opportunity to clear her name, at least administratively,” Furlong said. “She’s interested in salvaging her career.”
Paul Loriquet, spokesman for the Attorney General’s Office, said a criminal investigation into Barone’s conduct has been closed without charges.