Thomas Mascia, a former New York state trooper, pleaded guilty to charges stemming from an incident where he shot himself and falsely claimed he was attacked by an unknown assailant on a Long Island highway. During a court appearance in Mineola, Mascia changed his plea to guilty, agreeing to a sentence of six months in jail, five months of probation, and continued mental health treatment. He also committed to pay $289,000 in restitution for overtime costs incurred by law enforcement during a three-day search for a nonexistent assailant.
Mascia, who became a trooper in 2019 and was suspended without pay during the criminal investigation, had been charged with official misconduct, tampering with evidence, and falsifying documents. His parents, Dorothy and Thomas, also pleaded guilty to firearm-related charges connected to the incident. The shooting occurred on October 30 when Mascia claimed he was shot while on duty near the Southern State Parkway. He described the suspect as a “dark-skinned” male, allegedly fleeing the scene. However, prosecutors revealed that Mascia shot himself in a park, hid the weapon, and later called for backup to fabricate a story.
During court proceedings, Mascia acknowledged the falsehood of his claims when questioned by prosecutors. His lawyer indicated that Mascia has been grappling with untreated mental health issues for years. The family had previously attempted to change their pleas in court, but proceedings were halted when Mascia expressed mental distress. They are set for sentencing on August 20.
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