By: Najla Alexander
Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri recently announced the promotion of Michael C. Borgos to deputy first assistant prosecutor.
Deputy First Assistant Prosecutor (DFAP) Borgos was sworn in last month by the Honorable Peter E. Warshaw, J.S.C., at the Mercer County Criminal Courthouse, officials stated.
According to officials, DFAP Borgos began his career as an assistant prosecutor with the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office in 2001 after completing a one-year criminal clerkship in Camden County.
During his 22 years with the office, officials said, he has worked as a line AP in the Juvenile, Trial, Domestic Violence, Special Investigations, Special Victims, and Homicide units and has served as the Prosecutor’s Office liaison to the Mercer County Drug Court.
While assigned to the Special Investigations Unit, DFAP Borgos participated in several long-term investigations into large narcotics distribution rings and assisted in multiple wiretap investigations, during his three years with the Special Victims Unit, he was able to use the investigative skills he acquired and apply them to victim-centric prosecutions, officials say.
In 2014, DFAP Borgos was designated chief of the Juvenile Unit and held that position until 2016, when he was named chief of the Grand Jury Unit.
As chief of Grand Jury, he was tasked with helping develop the new internal systems needed to address Criminal Justice Reform.
In addition to overseeing the Trial, Grand Jury Detention units, and Recovery Court, DFAP Borgos also serves as part of the Internal Affairs and Officer-Involved Shooting Response units.
He has served as executive assistant prosecutor since 2019.
During his career, officials say, DFAP Borgos has investigated and prosecuted several high-profile cases, including State v. Lamar Gibson et al., State v. Anthony Kidd et al., State v. Plesi Nichols and Anthony Roberson, and most recently in September, while working with DFAP Kathleen Petrucci, attained a guilty verdict in the double homicides contained in State v. Tyzir Hamilton.
DFAP Borgos has shown a passion for teaching criminal justice topics both within law enforcement and to the greater community, officials said.
He oversees the Training Unit for the MCPO and is a regular lecturer at the Mercer County Police Academy, where he serves as MCPO liaison.
Officials say he has also presented lectures to school officials, local police departments, and CLE courses for attorneys regarding search and seizure law and other topics.
According to officials, DFAP Borgos served as an adjunct professor at The College of New Jersey and Rutgers University – Camden, teaching undergraduate courses on a variety of topics related to the criminal justice system.
DFAP Borgos earned his bachelor’s degree from Gettysburg College (PA) in 1997 and his law degree from Rutgers School of Law – Camden in 2000, officials stated.
