Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes announces that a Passaic County jury returned a guilty verdict in the matter of State of New Jersey v. Dante Gordon.
Officials say that on Monday, a jury returned a guilty verdict on fourth-degree Aggravated Assault, for recklessly causing bodily injury to another with a deadly weapon, a handgun.
The defendant was found not guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, terroristic threats and aggravated assault by pointing a handgun at or in the direction of another.
The evidence presented to the jury at trial showed that the incident occurred outside the 7-Eleven at the intersection of Main and Market Streets in the City of Paterson, on February 25, 2016, at 1:30 in the morning.
The defendant is an officer in the Paterson Police Department but was off-duty at the time. The defendant was involved in a verbal dispute with an individual outside the store. The defendant brandished his handgun, then discharged it recklessly, injuring a
bystander. The victim suffered bodily injury as a result of a fragment or debris
from the discharge.
A fourth-degree conviction carries a sentence of up to eighteen months in New Jersey State Prison.
The sentencing is scheduled for May 10th before Judge Ramirez. Bail was revoked following the return of the verdict and the defendant was remanded to the Passaic County Jail.
The case was investigated by the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office Shooting Response Team. Assistant Prosecutor Peter Foy represented the State.