An EMT accused of taking a cell-phone photo of a corpse at a crime scene and posting it on his Facebook page has pleaded not guilty to misconduct charges.

Mark Musarella was charged with one count of official misconduct in a Staten Island court and was released on his own recognizance today.
Defense lawyer Edward J. Pavia said the photo was posted by accident, and Musarella is sorry about the incident.

A retired police officer, Musarella lost his job as an EMT this year when his superiors at Richmond University Medical Center on Staten Island learned about the photograph.

Musarella was working for Richmond University Medical Center on March 30 and responded to an emergency call on Staten Island. The victim, Caroline Wimmer, was found strangled with her hair dryer.

Musarella snapped a picture of Wimmer's body and posted the image on his Facebook page, prosecutors said.

Calvin Lawson, of Brooklyn, is accused of killing Wimmer in her West Brighton apartment because she told his girlfriend that Lawson and Wimmer were having an affair.

A lawyer for Wimmer's family says prosecuting Musarella will "keep society civil."

Musarella faces up to a year in jail if convicted.

Posted by the Associated Press / NBC New York