Statue’s kidnapper
pleads guilty to
disorderly charges
By Sherry conohan
Staff Writer
EATONTOWN — The manatee mailbox of Dr. Anthony M. "Doc" Villane Jr. is back at the end of his driveway and the person who cut the baby manatee away from its mother and made off with it has pleaded guilty to being a disorderly person.
John Q. Crelin, of MacArthur Avenue in North Long Branch, admitted in Municipal Court on June 5 to being a disorderly person by stealing the baby manatee. Municipal Court Judge Mark Apostolou ordered him to pay a fine of $501 plus another $30 in court costs.
Villane, who did not attend the court session, said, "That’s great," when he heard of the judge’s action.
"I think it’s really a good message to send that people’s private property is not to be vandalized. Hopefully, it will deter future vandals.
"I hope people realize how serious it is," he added.
Villane said he also was appreciative that police tracked down the guilty party.
"It really makes you feel good about your police department," he said.
The baby manatee was recovered by police in back of a house on Riddle Avenue in north Long Branch, just off Patten Avenue near the Monmouth Beach border.
Police said the owners of the home had nothing to do with vandalizing the mailbox or carting away the baby manatee.
Villane said he was able to complete the repair of the mailbox upon receiving a new eye for the baby manatee from the company in Islamarada, Fla., where he bought the mailbox a year ago to replace the one she lost while missing.
With the help of his son, Tom, he was able to put the mailbox back together.
It was put back in front of his Parker Road house on Sunday to once again delight passers-by, several of whom sent Villane notes regretting that it was missing.