By: Najla Alexander
Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes reported that Michael Wierciszewski, 25, of Wanaque, was sentenced this Wednesday morning.
According to officials, he was sentenced by the Honorable Marilyn C. Clark, J.S.C., to an aggregate term of five years in New Jersey State Prison.
Authorities say all 42 months must be served before he will become eligible for parole under the Graves Act in relation to a November 24, 2021, incident.
On November 24, 2021, Wanaque Police responded, officials say, to a residence in the area of Jackson Street and Whistler Place after a victim, who will remain unidentified according to the Domestic Violence Act, reported that Mr. Wierciszewski lunged at them with a knife while threatening to kill them.
Inside the residence, police located a Century Arms RAS 47 rifle that had been modified to remove the stock and accommodate a silencer and a pipe bomb, authorities say.
The RAS 47 was analyzed by the New Jersey State Police Ballistics Unit and determined to be an assault rifle, officials said.
Officials say the pipe bomb was analyzed by the Passaic County Sherriff’s Office Bomb Squad and the Federal Bureau of Investigation members and determined to be a destructive device.
According to officials, on December 21, 2022, Mr. Wierciszewski pled 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 before the Honorable Marilyn Clark, J.S.C.
Passaic County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Timothy Kerrigan represented the State during the sentencing hearing before Judge Clark, and Richard Baldi, Esq. represented Mr. Wierciszewski.