Man convicted of shoving veteran police officer to his death

A man accused of shoving a police officer to his death last year was convicted of aggravated manslaughter Wednesday.

A jury found George Villanueva, 43, guilty of manslaughter and aggravated criminal contempt, but acquitted him on murder charges.

Prosecutors said Villanueva pushed veteran cop Alain Schaberger, 48, over a railing as the officer was cuffing him during a domestic dispute at his girlfriend's Boerum Hill apartment last March. Schaberger fell about nine feet before slamming his head on the ground, breaking his neck. He later died from his injuries.

After the conviction was announced, Patrolmen's Benevolent Association president Pat Lynch said, "we will pursue the case to see that he is given the maximum sentence that the law allows."

Villanueva faces up to 30 years in prison when he is sentenced later this month, but the Brooklyn district attorney said a judge could add time to his sentence due to his lengthy criminal history, which includes 28 prior arrests.