JERSEY MAYHEM

Edison cops avoid jail time for retaliation plans

Suzanne Russell
@SRussellMyCJ

NEW BRUNSWICK - Two of three former Edison police officers who pleaded guilty last year to charges related to a 2012 investigation involving plans to retaliation against a North Brunswick officer who arrested one of the officer's friends on a drunk driving charge were sentenced to $200 fines, loss of their jobs and any future public employment.

The sentencing for the third officer who appeared Friday before Middlesex County Superior Court Judge Joseph Paone was postponed until next Friday. Attorney Robert Norton, who represents former Edison cop Michael Dotro, asked for the postponement, adding that he understood the Jan. 13 date was only tentative. Norton added he has two other trials with Dotro that are pending and he had hoped to have those other cases resolved before sentencing.

Dotro, who is out on $800,000 bail, has already pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge related to seeking retaliation against a North Brunswick police officer who ticketed one of his friends for drunk driving.

The prosecutor's office determined that no actual retaliation took place.

Dotro also is accused of attempted murder and other charges related to allegedly setting fire to the home of an Edison police captain while the captain and his family were asleep inside.

READ: Dotro and wife, 3 other Edison cops indicted

READ: Pennsylvania man indicted in Edison man's auto death

READ: Central Jersey legislators side with thin blue line

Former Edison police officer Michael Dotro (left) was sentenced Friday to two years' probation in connection with seeking retaliation against a North Brunswick police officer.

Former Officer Brian Favretto, 41, of Brick, and former Sgt. William Gesell, 48, of Edison, were sentenced to $200 fines and $125 in court costs. They have lost their jobs with the police department and cannot seek any future public employment in the state.

"I'm looking forward to closing this chapter of my life and moving on. I would really appreciate a little bit of mercy," Favretto said as he stood next to his attorney, Anthony Iacullo.

Last year, Favretto pleaded guilty to a count of obstruction of the administration of the law, admitting that he tried to intervene in the drunk driving case.

Assistant Prosecutor Russell Curley opposed a fine-only sentence, arguing that it sends the wrong message. He sought probation for the officers. Curley said Favretto's conduct reflected poorly on himself and the Edison Police Department, adding that he was involved with emails indicating that the North Brunswick officer's wife should be targeted.

"The shock value of those emails can't be understated," he said.

But Paone said that's not what Favretto is bring sentenced for, adding that Favretto will have the rest of his life to think about what happened.

"He lost his job, a pretty darn good job. He's stuck with the stigma of this whole experience," said Paone, adding that Favretto pleaded to a disorderly persons offense, which entitles him to nonimprisonment.

Paone said the initial charges in the case revealed a culture that shouldn't be tolerated in any police department, but Favretto pleaded guilty to something less than what he was originally charged with.

Former Edison Police Officer Brian Favretto (left) with his attorney in court Friday.

Gesell, represented by attorney Darren Gilber, previously pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction of the administration of the law for accessing computer records on the North Brunswick police officer, a disorderly persons offense.

Gilber asked for a noncustodial sentence for his client, who was joined in the courtroom by his wife and father. Gesell apologized in court.

Curley said Gesell was trained in how to use the department's data system and was responsible for training other officers on the computer system, which was only to be used for police business. He also asked for probation for Gesell.

Officer Victor Aravena was not sentenced with the two other officers. Aravena pleaded guilty last year to obstruction of government administration in connection with passing along the computer records to Dotro to assist in the alleged retaliation

Staff Writer Suzanne Russell: 732-565-7335; srussell@mycentraljersey.com

Former Edison Police Sgt. William Gesell (left) with his attorney, Darren Gilber, and his wife in court Friday.