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TRENTON
– Attorney General Paula T. Dow and
Criminal Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor
announced that a Gloucester County man was
indicted on charges that he wielded a loaded
handgun against two troopers and possessed
numerous illegal weapons at his home, including
assault rifles. He was also charged with
two other men in an alleged conspiracy involving
thefts of equipment from farms in South
Jersey.
According
to Director Taylor, the Division of Criminal
Justice obtained a state grand jury indictment
charging Brian Hinkel, 60, of Newfield,
with second-degree possession of a handgun
for an unlawful purpose and third-degree
aggravated assault on a police officer.
Those
charges relate to an alleged assault that
occurred on Jan. 26, 2009, when Detective
Sgt. Michael Peterson and Trooper Dan Cunning
of the New Jersey State Police went to Hinkel’s
house on Rosemont Avenue to question him
about stolen farm equipment. Hinkel agreed
to accompany them to the State Police barracks
for questioning. However, after telling
the troopers he wanted to get a coat from
the house, he allegedly grabbed a loaded
.45-caliber semi-automatic pistol off of
a kitchen counter and began to turn toward
the troopers. Peterson allegedly had to
wrestle the gun away from Hinkel because
he refused to obey commands to drop it.
Inside
the house, the troopers saw numerous firearms
in plain view. The State Police subsequently
executed a search warrant and discovered
approximately 258 guns, including illegal
assault rifles and illegal large capacity
magazines for semi-automatic rifles. As
outlined below, he faces numerous charges
in connection with those weapons.
In
addition, Hinkel is charged, along with
two other men, with third-degree conspiracy
to commit theft and to receive stolen property.
The two other men are Anthony Dalessandro,
44, of Williamstown, and Peter Monteleone
Jr., 46, of Newfield.
The
indictment stems from an investigation by
the New Jersey State Police. Deputy Attorney
General Jill Mayer presented the case to
the grand jury for the Division of Criminal
Justice Gangs & Organized Crime Bureau.
The indictment was returned by the state
grand jury on Friday, Aug. 27, but handed
up in court today.
Dalessandro
and Monteleone are charged with third-degree
theft in connection with their alleged theft
on Jan. 22, 2009 of two golf carts from
a farm on Friendship Road in Upper Pittsgrove,
Salem County. The farm owner allegedly spotted
the two men at his farm loading equipment
into a trailer attached to a Lincoln Navigator.
He contacted the State Police, and followed
the Navigator, which was stopped by troopers
in Franklin Township, Gloucester County.
Monteleone allegedly fled into a wooded
area, but was later identified as the alleged
accomplice.
Dalessandro
and Monteleone are also charged with third-degree
theft for stealing various items of equipment
from three farms, including the farm in
Upper Pittsgrove, a farm in Jobstown, and
a farm in Egg Harbor Township. The stolen
property included three tractors; tractor
attachments including a plow, tillers, and
seed and fertilizer spreaders; and various
tools.
Hinkel
is also charged in the indictment with third-degree
receiving stolen property. Hinkel allegedly
used a false identity to lease a 45-foot
box trailer, which was delivered to his
address and was allegedly loaded with equipment
stolen from the three farms.
Hinkel
faces numerous weapons offenses. The indictment
charges Hinkel with four counts of third-degree
unlawful possession of an assault firearm,
in connection with a Calico .22-caliber
long rifle semi-automatic carbine, a 7.62x39mm
Norinco semi-automatic rifle, a .223-caliber
Colt semi-automatic rifle, and a .30-caliber
National Ordnance semi-automatic carbine.
He
is also charged with 21 counts of fourth-degree
possession of a prohibited weapon for 21
large capacity magazines that were seized.
Monteleone
is charged with two counts of fourth-degree
obstructing the administration of law for
allegedly fleeing from state troopers during
the stop of the Navigator on Jan. 22, 2009,
and allegedly attempting to flee out the
back of his house when troopers arrived
to arrest him on March 20, 2009.
The
second-degree charge against Hinkel of possession
of a weapon for an unlawful purpose carries
a maximum sentence of 10 years in state
prison, with a period of parole ineligibility
equal to one-third to one-half of the sentence
imposed, or three years, whichever is greater.
It also carries a fine of up to $150,000.
Third-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence
of five years in state prison and a $15,000
fine, while fourth-degree crimes carry a
maximum sentence of 18 months in state prison
and a $10,000 fine. The indictment is merely
an accusation and the defendants are presumed
innocent until proven guilty.
The
indictment
was handed up to Superior Court Judge Pedro
J. Jimenez Jr. in Mercer County, who assigned
the case to Gloucester County, where the
defendants will be ordered to appear in
court at a later date for arraignment.
Detective
Sgt. Michael Peterson and Trooper Daniel
Cunning led the investigation for the New
Jersey State Police. They were assisted
by other law enforcement agencies, including
the Franklin Township Police Department
(Gloucester County), the Washington Township
Police Department (Gloucester County), the
Springfield Township Police Department (Burlington
County), Mullica Township Police Department,
and Yonkers (N.Y.) Police Department.
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