Charges against Clifton councilwoman to face grand jury review

The prosecution forwarded assault charges against Clifton Councilwoman Mary Sadrakula Wednesday to a Passaic County grand jury for possible further action.

Sadrakula made a brief scheduled appearance Wednesday with her attorney in Pre-Indictment Court in Paterson, where she filled out some standard forms and left after about 15 minutes. She and her lawyer declined to comment on the case.

Pre-Indictment Court is where defendants, defense lawyers and prosecutors confer without a judge present and sometimes resolve the matter. Resolution can come either by way of a plea offer, dismissal of charges, or downgrading of charges and remanding the case to municipal court.

If prosecutors find that none of those options is possible, they forward the case to a grand jury for possible indictment on criminal charges. Prosecutors would not say Wednesday why the case was being sent to a grand jury.

Sadrakula, 55, is charged with aggravated assault, simple assault and obstructing the administration of law. She was arrested on Feb. 20 following an incident involving her sister at her Dwasline Road home.

In addition to the assault charges, Clifton police said Sadrakula obstructed the administration of the law by twice telling a police dispatcher that there was no problem at her home after police received an emergency call from her number.

Authorities said Lorraine Sadrakula, the councilwoman’s sister, told officers outside the home that the councilwoman had hit and kicked her and pushed her down. She was treated for a broken nose and tailbone at St. Mary’s Hospital in Passaic.

Mary Sadrakula has pleaded not guilty to all charges.