In a surprising turn of events, authorities have charged the parents of a New Jersey teenager who was recently arrested for impersonating a police officer. This development, announced on Friday, adds an unexpected layer to the case that has captivated local communities.
Dean Pluchino, an 18-year-old resident of Raritan Township, found himself in hot water on January 16. His arrest followed a thorough investigation carried out by the Raritan Township Police Department, with the support of Readington police, as confirmed by prosecutors from Hunterdon County.
Pluchino faces multiple charges, including two counts of impersonating a law enforcement officer and one count of tampering with evidence. Similarly, Readington police have also pressed charges against him for masquerading as a cop.
The accusations against Pluchino involve incidents earlier this month where he allegedly attempted to pull over motorists using an unmarked vehicle. The police were able to trace this vehicle back to a home in Raritan, where they located the teenage suspect.
In a twist to the unfolding story, officials disclosed on Friday that Pluchino’s parents, David Pluchino, 51, and Reneen Pluchino, 49, have also been implicated in the case. Their charges include fourth-degree conspiracy to tamper with physical evidence, according to Lieutenant Scott Nelson, a spokesperson for the Raritan Township police.
The parents were charged with fourth-degree conspiracy to tamper with physical evidence, according to Lt. Scott Nelson, a Raritan Township police spokesperson.
The new charges come from the same investigation that resulted in their son’s arrest last week. They follow investigators’ discovery of “additional evidence” in the case, Nelson said, without providing additional details.
The younger Pluchino was released on conditional pretrial monitoring, prosecutors said. If convicted, he faces up to 18 months in prison and $10,000 in fines on each charge.
“Impersonating a law enforcement officer is a serious crime that erodes public trust and endangers the safety of the community,” officials said when announcing the investigation on Jan. 9. “Anyone who falsely presents themselves as a peace officer will be arrested and prosecuted.”
