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Fredric Knapp is sworn in by Gov. Chris Christie as Morris County prosecutor in July 2014. Knapp's wife, Eleanor, is at left. (Tony Kurdzuk | The Star-Ledger)

MORRISTOWN — A Morristown attorney claimed in a recorded conversation that Morris County Prosecutor Fredric Knapp is "in my pocket."

"Whatever I ask, he does," said longtime family attorney William Laufer, pointing out that he and Knapp had been law partners for 20 years before Knapp became prosecutor.

Laufer made that recorded comment to his opposing counsel in a Morristown family courtroom on Dec. 1, 2014 while court was in recess but the recording system remained turned on. NJ Advance Media heard the recording and obtained a copy of the transcript.

The Morris County Prosecutor's office said Tuesday Laufer's assertion was "totally and completely false."

Tobia Ippolito, formerly of Mountain Lakes and now of Parsippany, read part of the transcript in court on Tuesday as part of a domestic violence trial in connection with divorce proceedings from his wife, Lisa.

Laufer is Lisa Ippolito's attorney and those comments "make (Tobia Ippolito) fearful about what this is all about," said his attorney, Angelo Sarno. It makes him feel as if the opposing counsel, and the prosecutor, are "acting in concert," Sarno said.

Tobia Ippolito obtained a temporary restraining order against his wife for alleged stalking, and the attorney's comments about having the prosecutor in his "pocket" amounted to a form of stalking, he said.

Although the divorce proceeding is a civil matter, Tobia Ippolito said in an interview that he asked the prosecutor to pursue criminal charges including stalking, identity theft and securities fraud against his wife.

But Knapp less than two weeks later announced he would not be pursuing criminal charges against Lisa Ippolito, her husband said. Tobia Ippolito attributed Knapp's decision to Laufer's "inappropriate relationship with the prosecutor."

During the recorded conversation, Laufer went on to brag that Knapp is "irrecusable" but also appeared to denigrate the now-prosecutor's legal abilities.

"I got him that job (as prosecutor)," Laufer said. "I didn't want him around any more. He wasn't very productive, so I said 'why don't you become a Morris County prosecutor.'"

Asked about the comments by Tobia Ippolito and by Laufer, Knapp responded through his deputy chief detective, Denise Arseneault, who issued a written statement saying that the case is a "pending family court matter" and "accordingly, it would be inappropriate to comment."

"Separately, the allegations made in the statements by Mr. Laufer referring to the prosecutor are totally and completely false," Arseneualt added.

Laufer, in a telephone interview Tuesday, admitted making the comments, but added, "They were said jokingly and in jest."

"It was all absolutely taken out of context," Laufer added."Nothing that was said was true."

"I respect Fred Knapp and we're friends," he added, pointing out that about five years elapsed from the time Knapp left their partnership until he became prosecutor.

Laufer did not attend the trial on Tuesday. His co-counsel, James Porfido, represented Lisa Ippolito and both of them vehemently denied Tobia Ippolito's claims about the stalking.

"There's no credibility to that claim," Porfido said.

Porfido called Tobia Ippolito "a troubled man who is abusing the court system. He's filed ridiculous, frivolous motions and has not followed court orders."

During the court session, Porfido objected to the transcript of the conversation, calling it "hearsay" that is "not relevant."

Judge Sceusi let Tobia Ippolito read about half of it, and then cut it off to speed up the proceeding. "You got it in," he told Sarno.

Knapp was appointed acting Morris County prosecutor by Gov. Chris Christie in 2012, and in 2014, the state Senate formally confirmed him as prosecutor.

At the time of his appointment, Knapp had been working as a founding partner with the law firm of Knapp, Trimboli & Prusinowski in Florham Park, where he specialized in labor law.

Knapp's professional biography at the Morris prosecutor's website lists that experience and numerous other credentials but does not mention his time as a partner in the law firm of Laufer, Knapp, Torzewski & Dalena in Morristown.

Ippolito has made headlines in this case before. He filed a grievance against Philip Maenza, the original judge in the divorce case, after Maenza in 2012 called Ippolito and his wife "tomatoes" and was recorded during a court break calling someone a "jerk," saying he "hated" him and wished he were "incarcerated." Ippolito said he believed the judge was referring to him and also said the tomatoes comment was an inappropriate ethnic reference.

Maenza voluntarily removed himself from the case and in 2014 and he also received a private letter of reprimand from the state Supreme Court's Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct. A private reprimand represents what's probably the least harsh penalty that could be imposed on a judge.

Ben Horowitz may be reached at bhorowitz@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @HorowitzBen. Find NJ.com on Facebook.