July 18, 2022
FREEHOLD, NJ (MONMOUTH) – A Morris County man has been criminally charged with a bias crime as the result of threatening comments he made at a Jersey Shore synagogue late last week, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey announced Monday.
Nicholas Skirvin, 44, of Denville is charged with second-degree Bias Intimidation, third-degree Making Terroristic Threats, and Harassment, a petty disorderly persons offense.
Members of the Deal Police Department responded to the Ohel Yaacob Congregation at the corner of Lawrence Avenue and Ocean Avenue North at approximately 1 p.m. on Friday, July 15 on a report of an unknown person recording himself with a cell phone while making obscene gestures and screaming profanity-laced ethnic and homophobic slurs and threats at synagogue congregants.
A fast-moving investigation resulted in Skirvin being identified as a suspect in the case, and he was arrested by members of the Deal Police Department on a beach in nearby Asbury Park later the same afternoon. He was subsequently transported to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution (MCCI) pending a detention hearing that is now tentatively scheduled to take place on Monday, July 25, before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Paul Escandon.
The State is filing a motion to keep Skirvin detained pending the outcome of the case.
“The hate-filled rhetoric heard last Friday in what is typically a peaceful neighborhood with a tight-knit Jewish community wasn’t just abhorrent and disturbing – it was criminal,” Acting Prosecutor Linskey said. “The charges being announced today should send a clear message that we take such conduct with the utmost seriousness. There is no place for hate in Monmouth County – especially when it is the motive behind a crime.”
The Prosecutor’s Office sincerely thanks and recognizes the members of the Deal, Asbury Park, and Denville police departments who contributed to this investigation and arrest. The incident has also been reported to the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, which tracks bias incidents and crimes occurring statewide.
This case has been assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Melanie Falco, Director of the Office’s Professional Responsibility and Bias Crime Bureau. Skirvin is being represented by Robert E. Dunn, Esq., with an office in Morristown.
If convicted of the second-degree offense, Skirvin would face a term of up to 10 years in state prison.
Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendants have all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.
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October 8, 2020
Visit: https://www.monmouthcountyvotes.com/ for the latest voting information in Monmouth County
FREEHOLD, NJ (MONMOUTH)–As you may be aware, this year’s November General Election in New Jersey is being conducted primarily by mail-in ballots, per State mandate. On November 3, 2020, Election Day, limited polling locations will be open for voting on paper provisional ballots only, except for disabled voters.
Voters across Monmouth County are receiving their mail-in ballots this week and are encouraged to contact the County Clerk’s Election Office at 732-431-7790, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with any questions about the delivery of their ballots.
Due to this unprecedented change in our election process, Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon has provided a comprehensive webpage on MonmouthCountyVotes.com, explaining this year’s election process.
In addition, our office has provided video tutorials, including an animated step-by-step video informing Monmouth County voters of how to properly complete and return their mail-in ballots. The tutorial also explains how the paper ballots are reviewed and verified by the Monmouth County Board of Elections.
The video can be viewed on our Facebook and YouTube pages. We encourage you to share this important information with your friends and neighbors.
Election Hotline Established to Secure Election Integrity
To help ensure free and fair elections in Monmouth County, the County Election Offices and Prosecutor’s Office have established an election hotline. To report any issues of voter fraud or misconduct in Monmouth County, residents can call the County Prosecutor’s Office hotline at 855-786-5878.
“Our democratic system of government depends on free and fair elections and, as such, election integrity and security is important to all of us,” said County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni and County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon. “For these reasons, our offices are working together to further safeguard the electoral process.”
- Monday, October 12th: All County Offices closed in observance of Columbus Day
- Tuesday, October 13th: Voter Registration Deadline for the November General Election
- Friday, October 30th: Application Deadline for General Election Mail-In Ballots by Electronic Means for Qualified Overseas Civilian and Military Voters
- Tuesday, November 3rd: General Election Day!
- Tuesday, November 3rd at 8 p.m.: Close of the polls; Deadline to deliver mail-in ballot by U.S. Postal Service mail, Drop Box, or in-person to the County Board of Elections at 300 Halls Mill Road in Freehold or at assigned Polling Place.
Monmouth County Secure Ballot Dropbox Locations:
| Location | Address | Entry | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aberdeen Municipal Building | 1 Aberdeen Square Aberdeen, NJ 07747 |
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| 2 | Allentown Borough Hall | 8 North Main Street Allentown, NJ 08501 |
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| 3 | Asbury Park City Hall | 1 Municipal Plaza Asbury Park, NJ 07712 |
City Council Chambers (Bangs Avenue Entrance) |
| 4 | Borough of Belmar Municipal Building | 601 Main Street Belmar, NJ 07719 |
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| 5 | Eatontown Borough Municipal Building | 47 Broad Street Eatontown, NJ 07724 |
Rear Entrance |
| 6 | Board of Elections Office | 300 Halls Mill Road Freehold, NJ 07728 |
Side Entrance |
| 7 | Hazlet Agency – NJ Motor Vehicle Commission | 1374 Highway 36 Hazlet, NJ 07730 |
Airport Plaza |
| 8 | Howell Township Municipal Building | 4567 Route 9 North Howell, NJ 07731 |
Rear Entrance |
| 9 | Long Branch City Hall | 344 Broadway Long Branch, NJ 07740 |
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| 10 | Manalapan Township Municipal Building | 120 County Road 522 Manalapan, NJ 07726 |
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| 11 | Middletown Municipal Building | 1 Kings Highway Middletown Township, NJ 07748 |
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| 12 | Croydon Hall | 900 Leonardville Road Leonardo, NJ 07737 |
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| 13 | Neptune Township Municipal Building | 25 Neptune Boulevard Neptune, NJ 07753 |
Library Entrance |
| 14 | Ocean Township Town Hall | 399 Monmouth Road Oakhurst, NJ 07755 |
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| 15 | Red Bank Borough Municipal Building | 90 Monmouth Street Red Bank, NJ 07701 |
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| 16 | Rumson Borough Hall | 80 East River Road Rumson, NJ 07760 |
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| 17 | Wall Township Municipal Building | 2700 Allaire Road Wall, NJ 07719 |
October 7, 2020
DEAL, NJ (MONMOUTH)–A Rockland County, New York man was arrested Wednesday after police responded to a call about a trespasser and the man became uncooperative prompting a response from the county emergency response team (MOCERT), announced Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.
Deal Police Department responded to a call at approximately 12:41 p.m. reporting a trespasser who entered the vacant Loch Arbour Beach Club. Upon arrival, Deal Police officers recognized the subject as Edward Schwarz, 60, of Monsey, NY. Schwarz was wanted out of Ramapo, NY for terroristic threats against law enforcement. Schwarz was uncooperative and refused to exit the structure when approached by officers. As a result, the Deal Police Department requested assistance from the Monmouth County Emergency Response Team (MOCERT).
Law enforcement agencies were successful in having Schwarz exit the structure peacefully and without further incident. The subject was charged with third degree Burglary, fourth degree Criminal Trespass, a disorderly persons charge of Criminal Mischief, and as a Fugitive from Justice. Schwarz was transported to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold Township. There was no threat to the public during this isolated incident.
The Deal Police Department was assisted by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, Allenhurst, Asbury Park, and Ocean Township police departments.
Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.