By: Yuritza Arroyo
Passaic County authorities announced that a resident pleaded guilty to assault and weapon charges.
According to officials, Michael Wierciszewski, 25, from Wanaque, was arrested without incident on November 24, 2021, following an investigation.
Wanaque Police said on November 24, 2021, officers responded to a residence in the area of Jackson Street and Whistler Place in Wanaque after a victim reported that Mr. Wierciszewski lunged at them with a knife while threatening to kill them.
According to police, inside the residence, officers located a Century Arms RAS 47 rifle that had been modified to remove the stock and accommodate a silencer and a pipe bomb.
The RAS 47 was analyzed by the New Jersey State Police Ballistics Unit and determined to be an assault rifle.
The pipe bomb was analyzed by the Passaic County Sherriff’s Office Bomb Squad and members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and determined to be a destructive device.
According to authorities, on December 21, Mr. Wierciszewski pleaded guilty to one count of Second Degree Possession of an Assault Rifle, one count of Third Degree Possession of a Destructive Device, and one count of Third Degree Aggravated Assault.
Authorities say, under the terms of the negotiated plea agreement, the State has recommended that Mr. Wierciszewski serve five (5) years in New Jersey State Prison, with 42 months to be served before parole eligibility according to the Graves Act.
Sentencing is scheduled for January 25, 2023.