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The three live together in Lodi, where, prosecutors said, the 85-year-old woman fell and needed assistance getting up.
However, she was left there for at least 12 hours — and possibly up to 15 — and later had to be taken to a hospital, Assistant Bergen County Prosecutor Jessica Gomperts said.
Authorities offered probation in exchange for a plea bargain to the 57-year-old Wanco, a 20-year firefighting veteran, and his niece, Jennifer Wanco, 38, she said.
She said they refused and sought Pre-Trial Intervention
Under PTI, as it’s known, defendants without prior criminal records can have charges removed if they follow certain conditions for a specified time period, ordinarily a year. If they do, their records are “expunged” — wiped clean.
Depending on the offense, PTI can require community service, restitution and/or fines, psychological testing, urine monitoring and alcohol evaluations.
Should their bid be rejected, or they fail to complete the program, the charges would go to a grand jury in Hackensack.
Contrary to a published report, neither has been denied entry into PTI. Bergen prosecutors said they are opposing the move for both defendants. The process takes about five weeks to complete.
STORY: Mary K. Miraglia, CLIFFVIEW PILOT Courthouse Reporter
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