Correction: Based on incorrect information, a previous version of this story incorrectly described the officer's current status with the police department. Christian Pedana retired from the force in March.

EDISON -- A former township police officer accused of scheming to set fire to his captain's house avoided prison Friday after agreeing to testify against an ex-cop convicted in a series of vengeful plots.

Christian Pedana, 45, was fined $1,125 for obstructing the administration of law as part of a deal that Superior Court Judge Benjamin Bucca said could be perceived as a "slap on the wrist."

Although the plan never materialized, authorities said Pedana plotted to burn down Capt. Matthew Freeman's home in April 2013 with Michael Dotro, the former Edison cop who admitted to a series of misconduct charges, including setting fire to another supervisor's home.

"Your cooperation, ultimately, was the key moment in the successful prosecution of officer Dotro," Bucca said of Pedana's deal, which downgraded his initial charge of conspiring to commit an aggravated arson.

Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Russell Curley said Pedana's cooperation was integral to the county's case against Dotro, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison as part of a plea deal that wrapped up numerous misconduct charges against the former officer.

Pedana's defense attorney, Jeffrey Garrigan, said Pedana agreed to testify against Dotro at trial.

Pedana, who retired from the force in March, became aware that Dotro had "hatched some sort of scheme" to burn down his supervisor's home, but did not report the plan because he did not believe Dotro would go through with it, his defense team said.

The fire was never set and the supervisor was not injured.

When Pedana was questioned by the prosecutor's office, he was not forthcoming and obstructed the investigation, but later agreed to testify against Dotro, Garrigan said.

Pedana has suffered significant financial damage as a result of the case and may lose his pension, his defense team said.

Before he was sentenced, Pedana apologized to the court for his behavior.

Garrigan said Dotro manipulated Pedana, something with which the assistant prosecutor agreed.

When Dotro first appeared in court, the room was full of supporters from the force. But when he was sentenced in September after pleading guilty to attempted murder and arson, no one showed.

"When you see the aftermath of a tornado and the path of destruction that was left behind, anyone who was associated with Mr. Dotro is now living in the aftermath of that destruction," Curley said.

In a statement, the police department said Pedana was suspended from his $124,668 job after the prosecutor's office filed the charges. He voluntarily retired from the force March 1.

"With today's sentencing of this former officer finished, our police officers and command staff can now move ahead with rebuilding our public image, regaining public trust and focusing on our top priority: Improving public safety throughout our community," Edison police Chief Thomas Bryan said.

Staff writer Craig McCarthy contributed to this report.

Luke Nozicka may be reached at lnozicka@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @lukenozicka.

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