Prosecutor: Investigation Into Hit and Run Death Is Ongoing, Additional Charges Are Possible

Toni Ann Marletta, photo via facebook

A “robust and aggressive” investigation into the hit and run death of 15 year old Marissa Procopio is ongoing.  It is possible that additional charges…assault by auto or vehicular homicide…could be filed against Toni Ann Marletta, said Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni in an interview with MoreMonmouthMusings last week.

Marletta has been incarcerated at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution since July 15 after being charged with Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident, Failing to Report a Motor Vehicle Accident, No Insurance, Unsafe Tires and Leaving the Scene of a Fatal Motor Vehicle Accident July 6th incident on Route 36 in the Leonardo section of Middletown Township which resulted in the death of Procopio.  Her bail is $150,000 with no 10% option.

The Middletown Police Department identified Marletta as the driver of the vehicle that struck Procopio and fled the scene within hours of the incident.

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Obama’s NY trip delaying Monmouth County Commuters, Tourists

President Obama’s long weekend jaunt to New York for a fundraiser and a show with his daughters will inconvenience Monmouth County commuters tonight and Tuesday, as well as tourists who wish to cruise between the Big Apple and the Bayshore tomorrow.

Seastreak Ferry announced potential delays or cancellations of its Pier 11 – Highlands/Atlantic Highlands trips at 6:10 and 7:10 Friday evening, Saturday afternoon’s 4:30 and 5:30 trips and Tuesday’s scheduled trips at 2:40, 3:40, 7:20 and 8:20 p.m.

Seastreak’s clothing optional cruises this weekend to Sandy Hook are not affected.

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This week in Presidential Polls

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Howell Man Indicted On Pedophilia Charges

Defendant is free on $125K bail

Gregory Rittman, 50, of Howell Township, was Indicted by a Monmouth County Grand Jury this week on 12 counts of Sexual Assault, Endangering the Welfare of a Child and Lewdness, according to a statement by Acting Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

Rittman was arrested on Friday, Oct. 24, 2014, after authorities received a report from an employee at a McDonald’s that described lewd behavior witnessed by an 8-year-old juvenile, near the sink in the men’s bathroom of the restaurant. Rittman was charged with one count each of second degree Sexual Assault, third degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child, fourth degree Lewdness and a disorderly persons charge of Harassment. He was released after posting $73,000 bail with no 10-percent option, as set by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Teresa A. Kondrup-Coyle, J.S.C.

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Hit and Run Driver Arrested

Toni Marletta
photo via facebook

Middletown Police have charged Toni Ann Marletta, 49 of the Leonardo section of the Township, in the hit and run motor vehicle crash that resulted in the death in Marissa Procopia, 15 of Atlantic Highlands.

Marletta was charged with Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident, Failing to Report a Motor Vehicle Accident, No Insurance, Unsafe Tires and Leaving the Scene of a Fatal Motor Vehicle Accident. She is being held on $150,000.00 bail with no 10% option set by Judge Honora O’Brien-Kilgallen of the Monmouth County Superior Court.

Marletta is not listed yet as an inmate on the Monmouth County Sheriff’s website, as of 1 p.m.

Charles Webster, spokesperson for the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, told MMM that Marletta was being held in Middletown where she was unable to post bail.  Webster said she in custody and being transported to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution.

Cynthia Scott, spokesperson for the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, told MMM that Marletta was booked into the Correctional Institution at about 1:30 p.m.

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Monmouth Poll: Americans Don’t Trust Iran On Nuke Deal

Americans do not trust Iran to live up to any nuclear agreement negotiated with the Obama Administration, according to a Monmouth University Poll released this morning.  The poll was conducted July 9-12, before the final agreement was announced.

55% of registered voters polled by Monmouth said they did not trust Iran at all. 35% said they trusted them a little. 5% said they trusted Iran a lot.

Democrats have more faith in Iran than do their Republican and Independent neighbors.  Only 45% of Democrats said they don’t trust Iran at all. 45% said they trusted them a little 7% trust them a lot.  71% of Republicans don’t trust Iran at all. 55% of Independents don’t trust them at all.

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Christie to return to Asbury Park Convention Hall

“I sought a second term to finish the job – now watch me do it.”

~ Governor Chris Christie, November 5, 2013

Governor Chris Christie is bringing his “Telling it like it is” presidential campaign to the Asbury Park Convention Hall for a high dollar fundraiser on August 4.   Here’s a copy of the invitation if you would like to go.  Tickets are $250 per person for the reception. For $2,700 per person or $5,400 per couple you get a photo and a reception ticket.

Christie ends his first presidential commercial with a clip from his announcement speech where he emphatically declares “I mean what I say say and I say what I mean, and that’s what America needs right now.”

Here are some highlights of what Christie said the last time he held a big event at the Asbury Park Convention Hall—his victory speech on the occasion of his reelection in 2013:

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Freeholder Lillian Burry Recoverying From A Fall

Freeholder Lillian G. Burry photo by Art Gallagher

Monmouth County Freeholder Lillian G. Burry is resting comfortably at home after being released from Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank where she spent most of last week after sustaining injuries resulting from a fall outside of her Colts Neck Realty office.

During a phone interview this morning, Burry told MMM that she sustained a mild concussion, injured her left knee and crushed her right elbow.  Her elbow joint was replaced.

“There’s still a lot of life in this old broad,” Burry said, “that’s it.  When I do something, I really do it.”

Burry’s knee is being treated with an ice pack.  Her right arm is in a cast that feels like it weighs 50 lbs., she said.

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Highlands Man Surprised To Find Himself In Christie For President Ad

Governor Chris Christie released the first ad of his fledgling presidential campaign today.  The thirty second spot is aimed at New Hampshire primary voters and will air on Boston, MA and Manchester, NH television and cable outlets, according to a report on NJ.com.  Christie’s campaign will spend $500,000 to distribute the ad over the next four weeks, according to the report.

Monmouth County restaurateur Leo Cervantes, the owner of Chilango’s in Highlands and LaPlaya in Keansburg was surprised to find himself featured in the ad.

Cervantes appears 5 seconds into the ad and is the first face featured after Christie’s.  He had no idea he was in the ad when contacted by MoreMonmouthMusings.

“I endorsed Christie for his reelection as governor,” Cervantes said, “I did a commercial for him and was part of his Hispanic outreach, but I have not heard from his presidential campaign. Should I sue them?” he asked jokingly.

Cervantes said he has not made a decision on who to support for president in 2016. “I was just talking to my daughter about this.  I know the candidates are Bush, Hillary, Trump and some others, but I really haven’t focused on it yet.”

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Hit and Run Victim, 15, Is On Life Support

Marissa Procopio photo via facebook

Marissa Procopio, the 15 year old Atlantic Highlands girl who was struck by a hit and run driver in Middletown on Tuesday, is on life support at Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune.  Previous published reports said she had died of her injuries on Wednesday afternoon at 3:46.

An official of the Henry Hudson Regional High School District who asked not to be named for this story told MoreMonmouthMusings that Marissa’s family was informed by her doctor that there was no blood flowing to her brain and that there was no hope of recovery. The family has chosen to keep Marissa on a life sustaining ventilator for two days in order that family members can travel to say good-bye, according to the school official.  The official said that the high school principal visited Marissa at the hospital on Wednesday at 5:45 pm, two hours after the reported death.

Robert Cavanaugh, spokesperson for Jersey Shore Medical Center, declined to confirm Marissa’s condition, citing HIPAA regulations that the hospital’s policy against commenting on the condition of minors.   An telephone operator a Jersey Shore said that Marissa is patient in the Intensive Care Unit.

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