Post by WaTcHeR on Nov 20, 2006 14:20:38 GMT -5
Officer Michael Hearne
11.20.2006 - CAMDEN - Bail was reduced Monday for a Camden police officer accused of charges related to three armed robberies.
Bail for Cpl. Michael Hearne was reduced from $2 million to $150,000 cash or bond by Superior Court Presiding Criminal Judge Thomas A. Brown Jr.
Hearne was held in the Mercer County Jail after his arrest Friday night by New Jersey State Police.
Defense attorney Jeffrey Zucker, retained in the case on Monday, said arrangements had been made with a bail-bond agency and he hoped Hearne would be released within hours of Brown's bail reduction order.
"He spent many years as a police officer and has a great name in the community," Zucker said of his client on Monday. Zucker said he did not know the officer personally before being called by family members.
Zucker said it could take several weeks before charges against Hearne, including official misconduct, conspiracy to rob and launder money, and possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, are presented to a state grand jury in Trenton.
If Hearne is indicted, the case could be assigned for trial in any county.
Hearne, arrested Friday, is accused of providing a partner with an illegal gun used in the robberies, state police said. The two men would meet afterward and Hearne's partner would return the gun and the cash, state police spokesman Sgt. Stephen Jones said.
One of the robberies netted about $30,000, police said.
Hearne laundered the money -- police would not say how -- and paid his partner in large bills, Jones said. Hearne's partner tipped authorities to the scheme, Jones said.
Hearne was suspended without pay after his arrest. He had been a police officer in Camden for 18 years.
www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061114/NEWS01/611140388/1006