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Ex-Newark cop sentenced to 79 years in state prison for 2019 Jefferson Township shooting

MORRISTOWN, NJ (Morris County) – A former Newark police officer has been sentenced to 79 years in New Jersey State Prison for a 2019 shooting in Jefferson Township, according to Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll.

John Formisano, 52, formerly of Jefferson Township was sentenced on Dec. 19 to an aggregate sentence of 79 years in New Jersey State Prison.

The first 65 years of the sentence are subject to the No Early Release Act, which make the defendant ineligible for parole until he has served 85% of 65 years (approximately 55 years, 3 months).

Specifically, the Hon. Michael C. Gaus, J.S.C. imposed the following consecutive sentences: 50 years on the count of murder; 15 years on the count of attempted murder; seven years on a count of endangering the welfare of a child; and seven years on a count of endangering the welfare of a child. The sentences imposed on the remaining charges were ordered to run concurrently to the aforementioned sentences.

Judge Gaus also ordered Formisano to pay restitution to the New Jersey Victim of Crimes Compensation Office and for reimbursement of medical expenses incurred by the victims. He also ordered Formisano to have no contact with the adult male victim (T.S.) and to have no contact with the two minor children or their current guardian for a term of 180 days.

A Morris County jury returned a verdict on Oct. 3 finding John Formisano guilty of numerous charges following an eight-day trial. He was found guilty of first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, two counts of second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, second-degree official misconduct, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, and third-degree hindering apprehension or prosecution.

On July 14, 2019, at around 11:21 p.m., Jefferson Township police responded to 1 Mirror Place for 9-1-1 calls of shots fired. Upon arrival, first responding officers located a deceased woman’s body lying on the front porch steps of 5 Mirror Place, Carroll said.

The deceased woman was subsequently identified as Christie Formisano, 37, of Jefferson Township. A second victim, male (T.S.), 40, was located with multiple gunshot wounds inside the residence of 1 Mirror Place. Two minor children were also located inside the residence, Carroll said.

Then at around 2:00 a.m., Formisano was located in Livingston, New Jersey, and was taken into custody by law enforcement. The firearm used by Formisano was recovered in the trunk of the car the defendant was driving, Carroll said.

Formisano, an Acting Lieutenant with the Newark Police Department, was off-duty at the time of the incident, Carroll said.

Prosecutor Carroll thanked and acknowledge the agencies that participated in the investigation that led to the successful guilty verdict, including the Jefferson Township Police Department, the Livingston Township Police Department, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit and Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team (SERT), and the Major Crimes Unit of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office. The Prosecutor also credited the Trial Team: Chief Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Schellhorn and Assistant Prosecutor Tara Wang with their professional and dedicated service; and commended MCPO Major Crimes Unit Lt. Michael Gomez, as well as MCPO Sergeants Sasha Gould and Michael Puskas, Detective Supervisors Stephen Gangi and Luis Goncalves, Detectives Michael Bost, Mohammed Thomas, and Matthew Belcastro, and all others who contributed to the investigation and successful prosecution in this case.

Jay Edwards

Born and raised in Northwest NJ, Jay has a degree in Communications and has had a life-long interest in local radio and various styles of music. Jay has held numerous jobs over the years such as stunt car driver, bartender, voice-over artist, traffic reporter (award winning), NY Yankee maintenance crewmember and peanut farm worker. His hobbies include mountain climbing, snowmobiling, cooking, performing stand-up comedy and he is an avid squirrel watcher. Jay has been a guest on America’s Morning Headquarters,program on The Weather Channel, and was interviewed by Sam Champion.

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