Ex-South Jersey Police Chief Faces 2nd Trial In Hate Crime Case

BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ — A former Bordentown Police Chief reportedly returns to court Friday on charges he violated the rights of an 18-year-old man during an arrest in 2016.

The re-trial of Frank Nucera on charges of hate crime assault and deprivation of civil rights under color of law begins Friday, nj.com reports. The first trial ended in a mistrial.

The charges stem from an incident on Sept. 1, 2016, in which police responded to the Bordentown Ramada for a report of two people, an 18-year-old man and a 16-year-old girl, who wouldn't leave.

Both initially resisted arrest but were in the process of being arrested when Nucera arrived. After the man was handcuffed and was being escorted from the hotel by police, Nucera came up from behind and slammed his head into a metal doorjamb, authorities allege. Read more here: Ex NJ Police Chief Charged With Hate Crime For Assault Against Teen

Nucera then told federal investigators he hadn't touched the suspects during the arrest or detention, according to authorities. Read more here: Ex NJ Police Chief Lied To Cover Up Hate Crime: Authorities

He was convicted of one count of making false statements to FBI agents who were interviewing him about the arrest. Read more here: NJ Police Chief Lied To FBI, Committed Other Alleged Crimes: Feds

Nucera was sentenced to two years, four months in prison, but won’t begin serving that sentence until the final two counts are resolved. Read more here: Ex-South Jersey Police Chief Goes To Prison For Lying To FBI

The re-trial was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Some of the evidence in the first trial revolved around secret recordings made by a fellow Bordentown Township Police Officer, who made those recordings on his own. Read more here: 100 Hours Of Recordings Included In Case Against Ex-Police Chief

The jury will start with a mostly white jury, made up of eight men and four women, according to The Trentonian. One Black juror was selected after discussions of race dominated the selection process.

Nucera served as Bordentown Police Chief and Township Administrator before he abruptly retired amid a federal investigation in 2017.