Two men have been charged with an 8 count indictment after shooting at the Old Paramus Reformed Church in Ridgewood last year. Joseph Galli a 22 year old man and Alexander Norrel a 23 year old used a high powered rifle to shoot into the church and cause damage to the church windows dating back to 1875. No one was inside the church at the time of the shooting which caused damage to the historic church and a bullet entered into the church. The two are also being charged with causing more than $2,000 in damage, possession of an assault rifle without a license, possession of a sawed off shotgun, and other gun related charges. Assistant Prosecutor Keith Travers told the judge that he is preparing a plea offer for the two of them that would be subject to the Graves Act, and it would carry a mandatory period of parole ineligibility of 3 years.
Under N.J.S.A. 2C:39-1 which is unlawful possession of certain weapons. It involves having a weapon that is not allowed in the state. It includes a defaced firearm, any type of explosive device. a sawed off shotgun etc. It covers a wide range of unauthorized weapons.
Under N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5 which is unlawful possession of a weapon. It involves the use of a weapon for an illegal purpose. It covers, machine guns, hand guns, rifles and shotguns. In this case an assault rifle was used which would make this a crime of the 3rd degree. A person found guilty of a crime of a 3rd degree is looking at 3 to 5 years in New Jersey State Prison.
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