Basking Ridge Repeat Offender Found Guilty Of Possession of Gun

Basking Ridge, NJ -- A Basking Ridge man was found guilty of having a gun following a car accident in Hillsborough, Acting Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson announced.

Brian Niziolek, 29 was found guilty of 2nd degree Unlawful Possession of a Handgun by a Somerset County Jury following a five day trial in Somerville.

The .25 caliber semi-automatic handgun was found on the ground outside of a vehicle involved in a single car accident on March 8, 2014 at 3:30 a.m. in the area of New Center Road and Orchard Drive in Hillsborough, according to the prosecutor's report.

Niziolek was arrested and later transported by ambulance to Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in New Brunswick for treatment, but attempted to remove himself from the stretcher twice during the trip, police report.

The gun was processed and Niziolek's fingerprints and DNA were found on it, according to the report.

After being convicted of Unlawful Possession of a Handgun, Niziolek waived his right to be tried by a jury and agreed to a bench trial on a related indictment charging 2nd degree Certain Persons Not to Possess Firearms.

At the second trial, the State introduced a laundry list of Niziolek’s prior convictions including: sexual assault, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, burglary, possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance within 1000 feet of a school, possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance within 500 feet of a public park and possession of a controlled dangerous substance.

He was then found guilty of the 2nd degree Certain Persons Not to Possess Firearms.

"Based on Niziolek’s criminal history, he is eligible to be sentenced as a persistent offender to 20 years in prison with a 10 year period of parole ineligibility," Robertson said.

Niziolek’s bail was revoked, and sentencing was scheduled for July 22.

(Photo, SCPO: Brian Niziolek, 29, of Basking Ridge)