(AP) - State prosecutors have charged a Democraticassemblyman from northern New Jersey with official misconduct andviolating campaign finance laws.

Assemblyman Anthony Chiappone of Bayonne and his wife Diane areaccused of taking more than $8,000 from state paychecks forlegislative aides and moving the money into campaign and personalaccounts. Attorney General Anne Milgram announced the chargesWednesday.

A message seeking comment left on Chiappone's cell phone was notimmediately returned.

Chiappone served as an assemblyman from 2004-2005, then waselected again in 2007. He served on the Bayonne City Council from1998-2009, but resigned in April 2009.

Chiappone had been subpoenaed by Milgram's office over payrollrecords.