By Heather Niccoli, Staff Writer
PLAINSBORO A retired Plainsboro police officer, who was accused of extortion, had his case dismissed on Jan. 4 at Middlesex County Court.
Nicholas Procaccini, 44, of West Windsor, had his name cleared when the Middlesex County prosecutor’s office moved to dismiss the complaint against him.
Superior Court Judge Bradley Ferencz made the ruling, according to Jim O’Neill, public information officer for the county prosecutor’s office.
Mr. Procaccini was arrested and charged on Jan. 13, 2011, and was released after posting $50,000 bail.
”It was not fun having to be processed at same police department where I worked for 20 years,” he said. “They did their best to try and embarrass me while I was there but, much like this failed investigation, they couldn’t accomplish that either.”
He was charged with a single count of second- degree conspiracy to commit extortion. If Mr. Procaccini were to have been found guilty he would have been facing 5 to 10 years in prison.
”My client’s position has always been that he did nothing wrong and the case was manufactured by overzealous superior officers in the Plainsboro Police Department in an unscrupulous attempt to discredit him as a witness in the Jennifer Wittmer (sexual harassment) case,” said Jeffrey Garrigan, attorney for Mr. Procaccini. “To the prosecutor’s office’s credit they did the right thing and dismissed the case after a thorough review and a determination by them as to the credible facts. Nick never wavered in his claim of innocence and has finally been exonerated after over a year.”
”I am very happy for Nick and his family that this matter is behind him,” he said.
Al Williams, 38, of Woodbridge, who was a dispatcher for Plainsboro Police Department, was charged with conspiracy and distortion and was facing 20 years in prison. Mr. Williams was arrested and charged on Dec. 11, 2010. He was released after posting $35,000 bail.
He pleaded guilty last Thursday to a petty disorderly person’s offense.
”Facing 20 years in prison, I end up with a PDP (petty disorderly person) for an annoying phone call,” he said.
Mr. Williams was trying to give information to former officer Jennifer Wittmer on a sexual harassment case.
”I look forward to my next fight, an administrative hearing as I seek my job back within the Plainsboro Police Department,” he said.
Police alleged after an investigation that Mr. Williams on behalf of Mr. Procaccini and retired police officer Jason Mariano had contacted another officer on Nov. 29, 2010, and threatened to reveal confidential and embarrassing information about the officer, unless the officer provided confidential and embarrassing information that would assist Mr. Mariano in a civil suit.
Mr. Mariano of Allentown was also charged with second degree conspiracy to commit extortion. Mr. Mariano was arrested and charged on Jan. 13, 2011, and was released after posting $50,000 bail.
Mr. Marinao was facing one count of fourth degree criminal coercion, according to Christopher Patella, Mr. Mariano’s attorney.
”My client went to court last week and pleaded not guilty to the offense and we look forward to being exonerated,” Mr. Patella said.
Plainsboro Chief Guy Armour declined to comment.
