BRICK – A New Jersey Department of Corrections police officer has admitted to assaulting a resident at the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center (ADTC), Special Treatment Unit (STU), in the Avenel section of Woodbridge, state officials said.
Giuseppe Mandara, 55, of Brick, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault (3rd degree), alleging he attempted to cause significant bodily injury to the victim.
Under the terms of a plea agreement, Mandara entered into a consent order forfeiting his public employment and barring him from any future public office or employment.
Prosecutors will recommend, during an upcoming sentencing hearing, that the court order Mandara to serve four years in New Jersey state prison. Sentencing is scheduled for January 31.
“Under the Independent Prosecutor Law, my office has the responsibility to investigate and prosecute incidents of death or harm that take place in law enforcement custody. This conviction demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that those in positions of power do not abuse their authority or harm those in their custody,” said Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin. “Those in state custody have rights and are entitled to the protections of the law, and violators will face justice.”
According to officials, Mandara assaulted the victim on August 23, 2019, inside the sally port area of the West Housing Unit in the STU.
The victim was walking away to his assigned work location as Mandara purposely took off his duty belt, which included keys to the facility and a radio. Mandara then approached the victim in order to continue an earlier verbal dispute, officials said.
The encounter then escalated into a physical fight, and both individuals ended up on the ground. Mandara repeatedly punched the victim while he was on the ground, officials said.
Mandara admitted to the court that his “repeated punches were done with intent to cause significant bodily injury to the victim and that his actions were excessive and without justification under the circumstances.”
Days after the incident, the victim suffered a fatal stroke. The grand jury received evidence and heard testimony from the state medical examiner about the cause of the stroke and manner of death. Subsequently, the jury did not initiate homicide charges in connection with the victim’s death.
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