Man Admits He Helped Killer of Newark Cop Flee State

A Paterson man on Wednesday admitted in Passaic County Superior Court he helped the killer of Newark Police Det. Michael Morgan flee the state during a manhunt following the murder, The Record of Woodland Park reported.

Keshawn Harley, 26, pleaded to one count each of hindering prosecution and witness tampering after admitting he met Jerome Wright at a friend’s house Nov. 7, 2011. Earlier that morning Wright shot Morgan, who was off-duty, during a robbery attempt outside a Paterson go-go bar.

Morgan, a 32-year-old Belleville native, had been with the department for six  years and had just been promoted shortly before his death.

Harley told the court Wednesday he agreed to throw away a bag given to him by Wright containing some of Morgan’s belongings. The following day, Nov. 8, Harley also admitted he drove Wright and his girlfriend, Nashali Gadson -- who was also present during the robbery -- to Pennsylvania. Harley also admitted he asked his girlfriend, Britanny Kiessler, to refrain from speaking to police. Harley drove Gadson and Wright to Pennsylvania in Kiessler’s car and Kiessler  accompanied them on the trip.

The state recommended that in exchange for Harley’s guilty plea, the judge sentence him to a period of probation followed by a year in jail, The Record also reported.

Wright and Gadson, who were arrested outside Philadelphia just days after Morgan’s murder, each pleaded guilty to various charges stemming from the shooting. Wright faces up to 39 years for manslaughter when he’s sentenced June 7. Gadson, who pleaded guilty to armed robbery, faces up to 10 years in jail when she’s sentenced on the same date.