Longtime Mercer County prosecutor officially leaves office

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- The longtime prosecutor for the county that includes New Jersey's capital city has retired.

Mercer County Prosecutor Joseph Bocchini formally left his post Saturday. That came one day after Angelo Onofri, the county's first assistant prosecutor, was sworn in as acting prosecutor.

Onofri officially took charge of the 170-member office on Sunday and will hold the post until Gov. Chris Christie nominates Bocchini's replacement. That person will have to be confirmed by the state Senate, and Bocchini and other officials have said they hope Christi will name Onofri to the post on a permanent basis.

The 70-year-old Bocchini served for nearly 12 years over two terms in the job. He had told Christie last summer that he would not seek a third term in office.