UPDATE: 2 ex-Edison officers avoid probation, fined $325 in retaliation plot

NEW BRUNSWICK -- Three of the four former Edison cops wrapped up in a payback plot against another officer are expected to be sentenced Friday.

Facing probation, Michael A. Dotro, 39, of Manalapan, Brian Favretto, 41, of Brick, and William H. Gesell, 48, of Edison, are all scheduled to appear in front of Middlesex County Superior Court Judge Joseph Paone at 1:30 p.m.

Victor E. Aravena, 45, also admitted to his role in the plot but his sentencing was delayed and has not been rescheduled. It was unclear why.

The four reached a plea deal with the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office in September during jury selection in the case over the 2012 conspiracy. The officers resigned from the force after the plea deal was struck, which will also bar all of the men from holding any future public positions.

Friday's sentencing will be the culmination of the first set of charges to run their legal course involving Dotro, who resigned amidst a number criminal accusations over alleged retaliatory plots.

Dotro, charged in two unrelated retaliation arson conspiracies, admitted last year that he planned to get back at the North Brunswick officer for citing his relative for drunk driving after being shown a police union card.

Favretto said he tried to intervene in the DUI case and Aravena admitted to accessing computer records to help in Dotro's plot.

Gesell, whose attorney tried to get the case tried separately, ran the North Brunswick's cop name through the FBI's criminal justice record check, or CJIS, without any apparent law enforcement reason, Superior Court Judge Alberto Rivas wrote previously.

All of the officers were indicted over the plot, which involved following the officer and surveilling his Edison home. Although the plan never manifested, text messages among the officers provided key evidence for case to move forward in 2015 when lawyers for the four officers pushed to have the charges dismissed.

All four were charged with conspiracy and official misconduct, while Dotro and Gessell faced an additional charge of unlawful access to a computer system. Aravena was also charged with witness tampering and a pattern of official misconduct.

Dotro, a 10-year veteran of the Edison Police Department, is expected to stand trial in the coming months for his alleged role in the firebombing Deputy Chief Mark Anderko's home in 2013.

His bail was reduced last month and his travel restrictions were lifted for the Edison cop after his attorney argued for Dotro to visit his parents in Florida and drive his wife, Alycia, to an out-of-state post-stroke care facility. The ruling by Rivas also allowed Dotro to run errands for the restaurant he and his wife own in Freehold, Alycia's Bistro.

Dotro, who has been charged with five counts of attempted murder, aggravated arson and several counts of official misconduct, has maintained his innocence.

His bail is currently set at $800,000.

Dotro's wife, Alycia also faces charges of lying to investigators and using the department's records database illegally. Her lawyer has said he will push to get those charges dismissed.

Craig McCarthy may be reached at CMcCarthy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @createcraig and on Facebook here. Find NJ.com on Facebook.