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Not guilty verdicts for official misconduct, sexual assault and related charges came as a relief to Manuel Avila — who was looking at 5 to 40 years in state prison had jurors convicted him of the most serious charges — and brought cheers from the crowd, an attendee told CLIFFVIEW PILOT.
They also said a woman who apparently was his mother fell during a dash to congratulate him. She required attention from emergency workers but seemed OK, they said.
Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia Valdes’staff claimed that Avila forced the inmate into oral sex.
But defense lawyers showed she had a history of mental trouble and clearly concocted the story to try and scam the city out of insurance money — at the expense of a respected veteran.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Manny Avila’s a good cop. I know firsthand (I used to cover crime in Paterson). But for three years, this 48-year-old former narcotics detective from Hawthorne had to endure the trial of accusations, not to mention the trial itself, after being assigned to guard the cellblock. Now, at long last, it’s finally over. And I am HAPPY to report it….
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