20-Year Prison Term For Ex-Edison Cop/Manalapan Resident Accused Of Arson

MANALAPAN, NJ — A former Edison police officer who calls Manalapan home pleaded guilty Monday to setting fire to the home of another Edison officer, who was his supervisor, and who lives in Monroe Township.

The ongoing Michael Dotro case has been making headlines in Central New Jersey for years: Dotro, now 40, was arrested at his Manalapan Township home in May of 2013. He was charged with setting a 4 a.m. fire on May 23, 2013 at the Monroe Township home of Edison Police Captain Mark Anderko and his family.

Although the fire was extinguished within 10-15 minutes by the Monroe Township Fire Department, the two-story Colonial-style home suffered extensive damage. Anderko, his wife, two children and 92-year-old mother were home at the time of the fire, but no one was injured.

It was quickly determined that the fire was intentionally set, according to the prosecutor's office.

On Monday, Aug. 21, Dotro admitted to one count of attempted murder in the first degree and one count of arson in the second degree for setting the fire. He also pleaded guilty to one count of official misconduct in the second degree in connection with a trial that had commenced last week. Lastly, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to tamper with a witness in the third degree in that same case.

A molotov cocktail was reportedly used to start the fire.

Ongoing Patch coverage of the Michael Dotro case:

Manalapan Man Accused of Firebombing Veteran Officer's Home

Current, Former Edison Police Officers Arrested In Another Arson Scheme

4 Edison Police Officers Admit to Retaliation Plan Against North Brunswick Cop

In an unrelated incident, Dotro previously pleaded guilty on September 16 of this year to a count of conspiracy, admitting he sought retaliation against a North Brunswick police officer who had ticketed another individual for drunk driving.

After he was arrested in 2013, Dotro was suspended from the Edison police force without pay. He is a nine-year veteran of the Edison Police force.

Under a plea agreement reached with Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Russell Curley, Dotro will be sentenced to a prison term of 20 years subject to the No Early Release Act. As such, Dotro will have to serve 17 years in State Prison before becoming eligible for parole.

He will be sentenced December 7.