The officer accused of destroying a cell phone that may have been of interest in another cop’s criminal case was indicted on several counts Thursday.

Nicholas Lunetta, 31, first tampered with - and destroyed - evidence that he thought would have appeared in an official proceeding or investigation, Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew Carey said.

In December last year, Lunetta was accused of destroying a cell phone belonging to fellow officer Paul Pappas, who was charged in March with slashing an ex’s tires during a domestic dispute in New Brunswick.

When Lunetta was charged, Carey’s office said the officer had destroyed Pappas’ phone sometime between March 20 and 23. The indictment handed up Thursday from a Middlesex County grand jury alleges Lunetta tampered with evidence between March 20 and April 28 of 2018.

Lunetta, 31, of Scotch Plains, faces two counts of official misconduct, one count of hindering prosecution, one count of tampering with evidence and one count of obstruction of the administration of law.

Lunetta has been suspended from the Edison force without pay since he was charged. Chief Thomas Bryan did not immediately return a call requesting comment about the indictment.

Joe Brandt can be reached at jbrandt@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JBrandt_NJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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