Hopatcong Killer Sentenced to 70 Years for Shooting Death

Giuseppe Tedesco was sentenced to 70 years in state prison Wednesday after being convicted of first-degree murder in connection with the 2010 death of a 22-year-old Hopatcong resident, according to a news report.

Tedesco, also a Hopatcong resident, was sentenced in Sussex County Court in Newton, according to New Jersey Herald. While he will be given credit for the 1,207 days he already served, he will be required to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before he will be eligible for parole when he is 84 years old, the newspaper reported.

Tedesco, 28, was found guilty in January of first-degree murder, possession of a gun and possession of a gun for unlawful purposes after the shooting death of Alyssa Ruggieri. 

Ruggieri, who was 22 at the time of her death inside a Durban Avenue home on March 27, 2010, was shot six times in various places, including in the temple, nose, chin, hand, chest and abdomen. Ruggieri and Tedesco were friends, according to court proceedings.

The trial was, at times, heated, particularly when a fight broke out in the courtroom when Tedesco allegedly cursed at jurors and Ruggieri's brother. However, Wednesday's sentencing went on without incident, the Herald reported.

On Wednesday, Ruggieri's family also pleaded with the judge to give Tedesco a life-term in prison, according to the Herald.