Suspended Little Silver police officer Steven Solari was guilty of six counts, but not guilty of aggravated assault on a arrestee at the borough police station almost four years ago, NJ.com reported Thursday afternoon.
From the report:
A jury found Little Silver police officer Steven Solari, accused of punching a handcuffed man in 2009, guilty on four counts of official misconduct, one count of simple assault and one count of hindering his own apprehension on Thursday.
The jury found him not guilty on two counts of aggravated assault, one count of tampering with a witness and one count of obstructing the administration of the law.
Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Assistant Prosecutor Melanie Falco also requested that Solari’s $81,000 bail be revoked in wake of the verdict, but defense attorney Edward Bertucio, of Hobbie, Corrigan and Bertucio, pointed to Solari’s clean record and ties to the community to ensure that Solari would appear at his sentencing.
“He’s not going anywhere, he’s going to continue to fight this case,” Bertucio said in court.
Judge Francis Vernoia denied the request and ordered Solari to appear at a Jan. 17, 2014 sentencing. The official misconduct charge carries a minimum of five years in prison, Falco said.
