Pair indicted in wake of assault in Howell

By TAYLOR M. LIER
Staff Writer

HOWELL — Two young adults who were charged in connection with an assault on a Howell resident in July have been indicted by a grand jury, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.

Christopher J. Favale, 18, of Manalapan, and Michael T. Leone, 18, of Freehold Township, were indicted on Sept. 24.

Howell police said an investigation into the July 15 incident determined that four individuals went to a home on Georgia Tavern Road intending to confront an 18- year-old male who lives there.

When the teenager exited his home, he was set upon by the four individuals. The suspects allegedly punched and kicked the teenager and assaulted him with wood baseball bats and aluminum baseball bats, according to police.

Howell Police Detective Sgt. Eileen Dodd said the four males who came to the teenager’s home also stole a cellphone.

The suspects fled the scene after injuring the resident. Officers responded to the scene and subsequently located and apprehended four individuals: Favale, Leone, a 16-year-old from Freehold Township and a 17-year-old from Manalapan.

The juveniles are not mentioned in the indictment that contains the charges against Favale and Leone.

The young man who was assaulted sustained bruising, redness and swelling to his abdomen, and was transported to CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township, for treatment of his injuries.

Favale and Leone have each been indicted on one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon by attempting to cause bodily injury to the teenager with a baseball bat.

They were each indicted on one count of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose for having the baseball bat in their possession and one count of unlawful possession of a weapon.

Favale was also indicted on two counts of possession of a controlled dangerous substance. On the night of July 15, according to authorities, Favale had two drugs in his possession: alprazolam and methylin.

Contact Taylor M. Lier at [email protected].