Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey announced that a Piscataway man was sentenced today to serve up to 24 years in prison for fatally shooting his father, a 26-year veteran of the township police department and member of the Piscataway Board of Education.
John Mahoney, 27, also was told that before he can be eligible for parole, he must serve 85 percent of 20 years in prison, which was imposed for his conviction on aggravated manslaughter in the death of his father, Jerry Mahoney, 49.
The judge added four years to the term for the defendant, who also was found guilty of a count of hindering his own apprehension by lying to police during an investigation into the homicide.
Superior Court Judge Michael A. Toto, sitting in New Brunswick, credited the defendant with a little more than eight years he has served in custody since his arrest.
The defendant was convicted on March 12, 2015 of aggravated manslaughter, hindering his own apprehension, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
A jury deliberated for three days before finding the defendant guilty. The jury also acquitted him of a murder charge.
During an eight-week trial, Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Bina Desai and Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Allysa Gambarella presented evidence and testimony showing that Mahoney shot his father three times on the morning of December 27, 2007, while the father was sleeping in a recliner in their home.
The defendant subsequently shot himself in the arm and then called 911, saying an intruder broke into the home. He later told police he killed his father, but said it was an accident.
At trial, he admitted to purposely shooting and killing his father, but claimed he acted in self-defense.
The prosecution argued that the defendant had planned the homicide for a period of time and had mentioned to friends that he wanted to hire a hit man