New Jersey

Ex-Guard Gets 20 Years in Hit-Run Crash That Killed 2 Politicians

Hansen, a Hudson County jail employee until his arrest, was given 10 years each for the deaths of Marie Tauro and Russell Maffei, with the terms to be served consecutively

What to Know

  • A former corrections officer has been sentenced to 20 years in prison in the hit-and-run deaths of two politicians
  • NJ.com reports that 40-year-old Michael Hansen was sentenced Friday on death by auto convictions in the 2017 crash in North Bergen
  • One of the victims was a prospective state legislative candidate and the other was a Republican Party official

A former corrections officer has been sentenced to 20 years in prison in the hit-and-run deaths of a prospective state legislative candidate and a Republican Party official.

NJ.com reports that 40-year-old Michael Hansen was sentenced Friday on death by auto convictions in the 2017 crash in North Bergen, which authorities said occurred while he was intoxicated.

Hansen, a Hudson County jail employee until his arrest, was given 10 years each for the deaths of Marie Tauro and Russell Maffei, with the terms to be served consecutively.

Prosecutors said Hansen must serve at least 17 years before being eligible for parole.

Tauro had planned to seek the GOP nomination for an Assembly seat. Maffei was the Jersey City GOP chairman. Authorities say Hansen fled but was later found at his home.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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