Pretrial intervention option
accepted in soccer assault
A Middletown resident who was charged with attacking a coach during a youth soccer tournament held in Marlboro in August has entered a pretrial intervention program.
According to Monmouth County First Assistant Prosecutor Robert A. Honecker Jr., John Nolan Jr. of Middletown was accepted into the program on Nov. 13. Under the terms of the program, which lasts at least one year and can last up to three years, Nolan must report to a probation officer on a regular basis and not have any other criminal involvement during the period of probation, according to Honecker.
If Nolan completes the program satisfactorily, the charges that were lodged against him in the wake of the incident that occurred at the Marlboro Middle School, Route 520, just after 2 p.m. Aug. 24 will be dismissed, Honecker said.
According to a story published by Greater Media Newspapers, the incident involving Nolan took place during a game at the 15th annual Marlboro Soccer Tournament, which features several age groups and teams from Marlboro and other communities. The contest in question was between two teams of 10-year-old boys — the Wall Raiders and the Hazlet United Metrostars.
Tournament co-director Len Parry said the conflict began after a Hazlet player went down with an injury and Wall coach Thomas Hasko made an insensitive remark about the player.
Hazlet coach Salvatore Ligouri was restrained from confronting Hasko, Parry said. The referees decided to address the situation by giving both coaches red cards, which would have resulted in their immediate ejection from that match and a suspension from their team’s next game.
Hasko was called to the center of the field to receive his red card, but argued the referee against the call, Parry said.
According to Marlboro police, it was at that point that Nolan, the parent of a player, approached Hasko and struck him in the face. Police transported Nolan and Hasko to headquarters. Hasko was not charged with a crime. Nolan was charged with aggravated assault.
According to Honecker, in the past an incident such as the one that occurred at the Marlboro soccer match may have been recorded as a simple assault and could have been handled in municipal court. However, under a law signed by Gov. James E. McGreevey, incidents such as this that occur at youth sporting events are now regarded as criminal aggravated assaults and must come to the attention of the county prosecutor’s office and the state Superior Court.
The pretrial intervention program is offered through the court to defendants who have no prior record of criminal acts. The diversion program allows a defendant to complete a probationary period, avoid a trial and possible incarceration and to eventually have the charges dismissed.
In this case Nolan was offered the option of entering the pretrial intervention program and accepted that offer last fall, Honecker said.