FREEHOLD – The former co-owner of the Belmar Beach Hotel has been charged in connection with an attempt to bribe a Belmar fire marshal, announced Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.
Gabe Baron, 71, of Galloway Township, is charged with second degree Offer of Unlawful Benefit to Public Servant for Official Behavior and third degree Offer of Unlawful Benefit to Public Servant for Official Behavior. Baron offered to make a cash donation to a Belmar fire company in order to ward off summonses and penalties issued for his property by a municipal fire marshal. The fire marshal immediately terminated the conversation and alerted Belmar police.
If convicted of the second degree offense, Baron faces a sentence of five to ten years in a New Jersey state prison. If convicted of the third degree offense, he faces a sentence of three to five years in prison.
The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Lawrence Nelsen.
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.
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