3 NJ corrections officers went to trial after presenting that the beating of prisoners

Three New Jersey Correctional Police officers are scheduled to be tried this week for charges related to an alleged assault on an imprisoned man in the north prison of the State.

A grand jury in September 2023 accused Orlando Mercado, Steven Roberts Jr. and Maton Wilkins, all employed by the New Jersey Corrections Department, for charges related to the alleged assault in Newark prison.

Prosecutors claim that on March 17, 2020, Mercado and Roberts used an illegal and excessive force against an inmate, mentioned in judicial documents as a victim #1. Wilkins is accused of helping to cover the incident.

According to the State Office of Public Integrity and Responsibility, Mercado and Roberts are accused of second -degree official behavior for supposedly abusing their authority through the inappropriate or excessive use of the force against the prisoner.

Market and Wilkins face additional second -degree charges for allegedly falsifying reports related to the incident. Both men omitted crucial details of official records to hide misconduct, prosecutors say.

The accusation also charges market and Wilkins with a third grade manipulation with public records and falsifications or fourth grade manipulations with records.

The accusation does not specify in which part of the prison the alleged attack occurred. Nor does it give a reason for the alleged assault.

If it is convicted, market, Roberts and Wilkins could face significant prison time. Second -degree positions in New Jersey have a penalty of five to 10 years in prison, while third degree charges can result in three to five years.

A spokesman for the State Attorney General’s Office did not immediately respond on Monday to a request to comment on the case.

The case has been assigned to the Superior Court of Essex County, where officers are scheduled to face a bank trial on Wednesday.

Patrick Toscano, a lawyer who represents market, said Monday that the case of the state is weak.

“We believe that this accusation of Opia is badly brought and insufficiently investigated by the Office of the Attorney General,” Tuscano said. “That said, the market officer anxiously awaits his day in court.”

Roberts and Wilkins’ lawyers were not immediately available to comment.